The Chad Barr Grouphttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com
Creating Digital Global Empires®Wed, 22 May 2019 19:44:16 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.10Creating Digital Global Empires®The Chad Barr GroupCreating Digital Global Empires®The Chad Barr Grouphttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpghttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com
Is Your Brand Protected?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-your-brand-protected/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-your-brand-protected/#respondWed, 22 May 2019 19:44:16 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8694I was browsing through a popular national publication when I noticed an article written about Creating Global Digital Empires®. This immediately caught my attention due to the fact that I own that trademark and the fact that the author who … Continue reading →

I was browsing through a popular national publication when I noticed an article written about Creating Global Digital Empires®. This immediately caught my attention due to the fact that I own that trademark and the fact that the author who wrote this article interviewed me a year earlier on guess what topic? You guessed right!

I picked up the phone, called up the author, who apologized for not knowing that this was trademarked by me. But what seemed even more disturbing to me was the fact that no attribution was given to me or the interview he did with me when I shared my insights with him and his audience.

Thankfully, my brand was protected by the fact that it was trademarked. I can’t even imagine the consequences and the legal and financial hassle of the possibility of having to defend it if it was not properly protected or even worse, if someone else had trademarked these keywords before me.

I’ve seen some of my clients arbitrarily using the ™ symbol without actually filing for trademark protection. The only way to gain the utmost protection is to submit your filing with the USPTO office. Once you do, you can start using the ™ symbol and once approved, you can start using the ® symbol.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with my trademark expert and attorney, Erik Pelton, who happened to be my colleague, my friend, my attorney and my client. You can gain tremendous knowledge by visiting Erik Pelton’s Valuable Resources section on his site or listen to How Legally Protected Is Your Brand? podcast interview I did with Erik a few years ago. I highly recommend Erik Pelton’s expertise to help you protect your various brands and intellectual property.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-your-brand-protected/feed/0Reaching Higher Levelshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/reaching-higher-levels/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/reaching-higher-levels/#respondWed, 15 May 2019 19:44:34 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8688Last week, in my article, Have You Uncovered Your Treasure Yet? I shared with you my top 10 insights that I reflected upon. Here are the top 10 for me and you to reflect on this week: Make sure your … Continue reading →

Make sure your key initiatives towards your key goals take control of your time and energy and bring the right energy towards them.

Don’t let your challenges define you but you need to define your challenges. Embrace these challenges and become a better person and leader because of them.

What are your 3 key strategic initiatives for this year? Now take massive action towards them.

Ask yourself daily: What are you excited about? What obstacles are you facing? Who can you help and positively surprise?

Like a piece of music that gets you emotional or brings back memories, what is the phrase that will put you in the moment and create massive action? Mine are: “Impact the World” and “Digitize the World’s Wisdom.” What’s yours?

Don’t wait for your inspiration or your mood to take over your creativity. Learn to force it and get started. It will then show up.

Is your current energy sufficient to take you to the next level? Most likely you need to increase it significantly.

When we are about to start a new major initiative, fear makes us slow down and start “collecting” strategy, knowledge, and insights instead of just doing it. As I suggested above, bring massive energy towards its creation.

To reach your greatness, why not start by stepping into your full capabilities and then push yourself beyond these capabilities.

Review your key goals and then challenge yourself to accomplish them in a fraction of the time you thought they may take.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/reaching-higher-levels/feed/0Have you uncovered your treasure yet?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-uncovered-your-treasure-yet/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-uncovered-your-treasure-yet/#respondWed, 08 May 2019 20:23:01 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8683I’ve been reviewing several of my journals and here are some of the insights that jumped at me: Reduce your labor intensity by eliminating insignificant tasks or those that don’t lead you to your goals, streamline and systematize your work, … Continue reading →

I’ve been reviewing several of my journals and here are some of the insights that jumped at me:

Reduce your labor intensity by eliminating insignificant tasks or those that don’t lead you to your goals, streamline and systematize your work, delegate work to others, and eliminate the junk in your life.

To paint your future success, I suggest you identify what you want your life and business to look like and what exactly do you need to do to build the business to support this lifestyle.

What are the strategic relationships you should create or pursue that would have the most profound impact on your future and those you impact?

End each day with complete clarity as to what are your top three goals for the next day.

Leaders lead. Therefore, end your conversations with: “here is what I want you to do” or if you rather lead softer, then say: “here is what I propose or suggest you do!”

Pay attention to your surroundings, which will help you gain key insights, where your intellectual property will often come from and where opportunities are hidden and abundant.

Try this exercise: Write down your key challenges and then your key opportunities. Now, identify as many as possible ways to address each. Now, pick one of each, get started and take action.

Identify and gain clarity on your planned and anticipated key accomplishments for this week, this month, this quarter and this year.

What is the biggest potential you and your clients are facing that have not been created or exploited yet, and what is holding you back?

Are you thinking big enough? If yes, can it be bigger? If no, why not start now?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-uncovered-your-treasure-yet/feed/0To Life!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-life/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-life/#respondWed, 01 May 2019 20:37:06 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8676“We need to leave the city immediately, it is getting too dangerous around here” he whispered to his wife. “Are you out of your mind? Our entire family surrounds us, our kids, my parents, and brothers and sisters. We have … Continue reading →

“We need to leave the city immediately, it is getting too dangerous around here” he whispered to his wife.

“Are you out of your mind? Our entire family surrounds us, our kids, my parents, and brothers and sisters. We have a successful business and an established life here. I am not leaving!” she exclaimed.

Next morning, she woke up screaming and crying: “where are the kids? They are not here! Someone has kidnapped our kids!”

He calmly looked at her and said: “I’ve arranged for them to safely cross the border last night from Poland to Russia. I am on my way to join them and hope you will be joining me and the kids safely in Russia!”

That man and women were my grandparents! It was my grandfather’s foresight, intuition and remarkable courage that saved them, my mother and her brother from the Nazi’s regime. Sadly, the rest of their/my family would not listen to him and all perished in the holocaust.

Today is Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day, when we mourn the tragic loss of six million innocent Jews and among them my dear grandparents’ Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters and extended family.

It was my grandfather who saw it all and eventually chose to move to Israel to start a new life.

I remember when I was 18, after completing basic training in the Israel Defense Force, we all stood there in the middle of the night emotionally reciting “remember and never to forget!”

On this day I honor and remember my family that was wiped out during the holocaust and the millions of others, who lost their lives.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-life/feed/0Inbox Zero – Reduxhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inbox-zero-redux/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inbox-zero-redux/#respondWed, 24 Apr 2019 20:22:03 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8664I work hard on reducing my inbox down to zero as much as possible and almost daily. I do admit that there are days that this task is not manageable but my goal, on most days, is to have my … Continue reading →

I work hard on reducing my inbox down to zero as much as possible and almost daily. I do admit that there are days that this task is not manageable but my goal, on most days, is to have my inbox empty at the end of the day, which is a great feeling when achieved.

Almost six years ago, I first wrote about the Inbox Zero concept and shared several insights as to why it makes sense to do so and how to do this. In today’s article I will recap some of my previous points and add some additional points I have not mentioned before.

There is no way that one can deal with thousands or tens of thousands of emails. This is simply unrealistic and a terrible waste of time and energy. Here are the reasons why you should consider reaching Inbox Zero:

Help reduce email storage space.

Improve the performance of your email program, its responsiveness, and search capabilities.

Reduce the possibility of technical glitches due to large database usage.

Eliminate the likelihood of the embarrassing “mail box full” message

Stop addressing the same email more than once.

Significantly improve your time management and available time and increase your peace of mind and overall quality of your life.

Let me now suggest how to do this:

Check your emails a few times a day. Five times makes most sense: Morning, midmorning, lunch time, later afternoon and end of business day.

Make sure your anti-spam software is up-to-date, which will eliminate up to 99% of the unwanted spam emails.

Discard all emails when possible that do not require your attention or are a spam (not caught through your anti-spam software).

Delegate email action and follow-up to your team or others when possible.

Schedule for future response when not critical or possible to address immediately. You may place this email in a special “Future” folder place a reminder on your calendar.

Ask only to be copied if critical and when you must know the conclusion or ongoing updates. Otherwise actually ask not to be copied on email updates.

Reply only if needed and avoid the volleyball communication.

Take action and quickly respond to emails and then discard them.

Create a few folders to store and archive critical emails such as contracts and sensitive documents or store in places like Dropbox and Evernote.

Use a different email address (I’ve created a Gmail address for this purpose) to subscribe to newsletters that you wish to read. Then view this email address only when you have the time to catch-up on your newsletter reading. This is huge and will significantly reduce your incoming emails and will also save you tremendous time.

Clear your sent folder and keep less than three months of emails in it.

If you receive 100 emails a day, or 700 emails a week or around 3,000 emails a month, and do not stay on top of it, it will accumulate quickly to thousands upon thousands of emails that will be very time consuming to address. For example: if you need to respond to 100 pending emails at around one minute each, it will take you almost 2 hours of work to complete. If you end up with 3,000 emails that need to be addressed at around one minute each, that translates to 50 hours of work! Fall behind a few times a year and the waste of productivity, time and aggravations are immense.

Stay on top of it and don’t let the email monster consume your previous hours and your life.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inbox-zero-redux/feed/0Wonders Never Ceasehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/wonders-never-cease/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/wonders-never-cease/#respondWed, 17 Apr 2019 19:07:57 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8661This is a holy week for so many around the world and, as is often the case, the Passover and Easter holidays coincide. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 determined that Easter should always fall on the first Sunday … Continue reading →

This is a holy week for so many around the world and, as is often the case, the Passover and Easter holidays coincide. The First Council of Nicaea in 325 determined that Easter should always fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Consequently, Easter remained without a fixed date but proximate to the full moon, which coincided with the start of Passover, the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nissan.

While the long, tedious and intense preparations that lead up to these special days were happening, the whole world came to a sudden stop this week as the great cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, went up in flames. We watched in horror as this magnificent church, an international symbol visited by millions of tourists each year, burned and intense smoke billowed throughout the Parisian sky.

A building project begun in the 12th century and completed 300 years later, could have been reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble, burying with it, the most precious of religious relics and artifacts. But miraculously, it remained standing, artwork rescued, the faithful holding vigils, as petitions for Paris were sent up through song, hymn and prayer from people of all faiths and beliefs from around the globe.

The holidays we are about to enjoy with our families and friends are reminders of the miracles of ancient times; freedom from slavery and the resurrection of Christ. They occur in the spring as a symbol of renewal and hope for us all. I hope that you and yours find peace and hope during this season of miracles, light and wonder.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/wonders-never-cease/feed/0The Hackerhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-hacker/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-hacker/#respondWed, 10 Apr 2019 20:52:36 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8656A client of mine called, panic-stricken, reporting that his email account was hacked and the invoice he recently emailed one of his clients was resubmitted to the client (by the hacker) and the money (tens of thousands of dollars) as … Continue reading →

A client of mine called, panic-stricken, reporting that his email account was hacked and the invoice he recently emailed one of his clients was resubmitted to the client (by the hacker) and the money (tens of thousands of dollars) as the payment for his invoice was wired to an offshore bank account.

I advised my client to immediately contact the police, FBI, his bank and his client as well as change all his passwords.

How can this happen? Several possibilities exist, and I suspect that one of these three are most likely to have happened:

My client received a call from someone professing to provide a needed technical support to his computer or operating software. Then allowing them access to his computer or sharing his login information.

My client clicked on a fraudulent link (URL) sent to him via email, which required him to enter his username and password.

My client accessed a public Wi-Fi connection and enter his username and password.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-hacker/feed/0Inspirationhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inspiration/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inspiration/#respondWed, 03 Apr 2019 21:00:18 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8653This weekend we will travel to Columbus to share in the installation of our son-in-law, Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, as the senior clergy of a large congregation. At 36, this is quite a lofty achievement, though he has spent his entire … Continue reading →

This weekend we will travel to Columbus to share in the installation of our son-in-law, Rabbi Hillel Skolnik, as the senior clergy of a large congregation. At 36, this is quite a lofty achievement, though he has spent his entire life in the service of his faith and the congregants whom he leads.

We’ve been asked to share a few words this weekend about him which, while I thought would be easy, seems to be harder than expected. He has inspired and motivated so many, including me and Laurel, to reach out and do for others, and shared his optimistic vision and hopes for peace and friendship for all people. Looking for meaningful words, I decided to share with you 10 motivational and inspiring quotes in which I found meaning and hope they inspire you and your clients and lift your spirits on this glorious, sunny day.

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius

“The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting.” Walt Disney

“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” Maya Angelou

“If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it.” Erada

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” Stephen Covey

“Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn’t give you credit.” Unknown

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams

“Stay away from negative people, they have a problem for every solution.” Albert Einstein

“Your current situation or status has no bearing of where you could be.” Chad Barr

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/inspiration/feed/0How to Create The Impossiblehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-to-create-the-impossible/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-to-create-the-impossible/#respondWed, 27 Mar 2019 20:36:12 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8649When I first launched my software business, quite a few years ago, I was a solopreneur for the first few years performing the various tasks needed to run and build my company. Tasks such as: developing software, bookkeeping, marketing and … Continue reading →

When I first launched my software business, quite a few years ago, I was a solopreneur for the first few years performing the various tasks needed to run and build my company. Tasks such as: developing software, bookkeeping, marketing and customer services to name a few. As the demand for my services increased I quickly realized that I cannot do it alone. That is when I hired my first software developer and open my formal office.

As the business kept on growing, I surrounded myself with a team that was instrumental in the success of my business. Additional software developers, marketing and sales people, a book keeper and software trainers. Not only did they complement my abilities but, in many cases, they exceeded them and introduced initiatives and talents that I did not have.

Throughout the years and as I transformed and transitioned our company and business focus to the Internet, marketing, strategy and digital content development, I remembered the lessons learned early in my career: surround myself with trusted individuals, both team members, colleagues, clients, friends and advisors, who have the passion, desire, talent, ambition, and creativity to create and innovate great things for the purpose of profoundly improving and impacting others.

I follow the slogan that “The impossible only takes a few minutes longer.” What I’ve come to realize that surrounding myself with such individuals makes the impossible, possible!

We are often the reflection and the average of those in our closest circle. Surround yourself with the type of individuals I referenced above, and I bet you will create something you’ve never imagined possible alone!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-to-create-the-impossible/feed/0Spring Awakeninghttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening-2/#respondWed, 20 Mar 2019 20:35:25 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8645I don’t follow politics much, but thanks to my wife, I am informed of all the comings and goings in the political world on a near daily or even hourly basis. She reported to me that over the weekend, our … Continue reading →

I don’t follow politics much, but thanks to my wife, I am informed of all the comings and goings in the political world on a near daily or even hourly basis. She reported to me that over the weekend, our president sent out over 50 tweets, 52 to be exact, on various topics. The twitter world lit up like a 4th of July fireworks display, and the pundits began their analysis of what all this meant.

Is he losing his mind and becoming unhinged, some asked? Others wondered if he was tweeting out of fear of the impending Special Counsel report. Still others, thought that it was an entryway into the upcoming election season and what better way to kick it off?!

It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or Democrat one thing is for sure; this got people talking and fixating on Donald Trump. Knowingly or unknowingly, this tweetstorm grabbed many peoples’ attention, conversations started and focus on the event.

I recommend we further become the influencers, the provocateurs and the ones who put something stimulating out there, on the varied platforms, that will get our customers thinking, talking and taking action to improve their lives and businesses and those they impact.

It’s the first official day of spring, people are feeling good, so it’s time to shake it up. Get noticed and get your business thriving!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening-2/feed/0Growing Your Business and Your Revenueshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growing-your-business-and-your-revenues/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growing-your-business-and-your-revenues/#respondWed, 13 Mar 2019 20:16:18 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8641Whether you are a solopreneur or a large business, I believe there are seven crucial steps to growing your business and your revenues. I outlined these steps a few years ago in my “7 Steps to 7 Figures” article. Here … Continue reading →

Whether you are a solopreneur or a large business, I believe there are seven crucial steps to growing your business and your revenues. I outlined these steps a few years ago in my “7 Steps to 7 Figures” article.

Here are the seven steps:

Get Referrals

Establish Relationships

Publish Prolifically

Create Offerings

Deliver Results

Take Action

Have Courage

To review my detailed explanation, please reference the above URL.

Since a picture often speaks a thousand words, I decided to create the attached transformation visual® for a quick reference point.

So, you may ask yourself what’s the purpose of today’s newsletter and what’s my point? I actually have four:

Demonstrate that repurposing older content helps bring it to life and further stimulate our ideas.

Adding a visual to our points helps increase the value while creating a different media format.

Consistently and frequently creating, sharing and publishing our insights help us transform them into books and other offerings, strengthen our marketing initiatives, and further create our intellectual property and our global digital empires®.

Promote our products and services and help make a difference and impact our target audience.

A collection of words become a tweet. A collection of tweets become a checklist or an article. A collection of articles become your workshop, books, webinars and products. And a collection of the those become your digital empire.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growing-your-business-and-your-revenues/feed/0Digitizing the World’s Wisdomhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/digitizing-the-worlds-wisdom/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/digitizing-the-worlds-wisdom/#respondWed, 06 Mar 2019 21:20:00 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8622I’ve come to the realization that had the greatest thinkers, inventors and artists of history not shared their wisdom, insights and gifts with the world, we would probably still be living in a version of the dark ages. Aristotle, Michelangelo, … Continue reading →

I’ve come to the realization that had the greatest thinkers, inventors and artists of history not shared their wisdom, insights and gifts with the world, we would probably still be living in a version of the dark ages.

Aristotle, Michelangelo, Ayn Rand, Galileo, Mozart, Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Steve Jobs, Maya Angelou or Bill Gates, are just a few of the thousands of remarkable thought leaders who made it their life’s work to not only increase and refine their knowledge and art but to spread their wisdom and gifts throughout the world.

As I reflect on my mission here on earth and the legacy I’d like to leave, I believe it is my obligation and calling to help digitize the world’s wisdom. Though this may sound bold, I believe that all big dreams start with a bold vision. One way I do it is by extrapolating the best content and intellectual property from my clients and then manifest it through various media formats and platforms.

My conclusion is that we all have an obligation to ourselves, our families, our clients and the world to share our insights, knowledge, experience and wisdom with others. Otherwise, we may deprive others from reaching their bold dreams. Perhaps the greatest of thinkers may doubt themselves and question their abilities, but we are driven to keep on challenging ourselves, continue to learn and educate, and share our God given talents so others may spread their wings and soar to great heights.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/digitizing-the-worlds-wisdom/feed/0What’s Your Next One Thing?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-one-thing/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-one-thing/#respondWed, 27 Feb 2019 21:51:33 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8601A few years ago, I wrote about The One Thing I must do to make sure all my competing priorities are addressed. Here are the top 10 I narrowed down back then which I true now as well: Take more … Continue reading →

Increase discipline. Yes, there are still areas in my life and business where this would be a great benefit.

Schedule more strategic breaks and thinking time. I am often amazed by the creative ideas I generate when taking such breaks and the increased momentum and energy.

Identify and implement what it means to work smarter than harder. Before taking on the next step this simple question and distinction makes a world of difference.

Recognize key insights and integrate into my content creation, life and business. I gain daily insights from my interaction with others, from consuming content and from taking time to reflect. The key is to put the most valuable insights into action.

Create, label and use my own unique new words and terms. One example of the manifestation of this idea are my Chadisms – personal quotes.

Keep creating “platinum” moments with our clients so I hear them say: “wow” or “this is brilliant” or “I never thought about it this way” or “I get so energized when I speak with you.”

Energize and recreate myself every morning. This means both physically, mentally and emotionally. This energy at the start of the day, does wonders to the success, creativity and productivity of the rest of my day.

Gain complete control of my competing priorities. My key realization back then was that since there are so many conflicting priorities that compete for my daily and hourly attention The One Thing I must do is gain control of my competing priorities. Because when that happens, the rest would magically take place one at a time.

My other realization is that I need to have my goals, priorities and desired outcomes in front of me and viewable, so I am inspired and accountable to take action. Hence why a transformation visual® speaks a thousand words!

What are your top 10 goals and priorities and upon which ONE will you take action now?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-one-thing/feed/0Procrastination… Is It Really That Bad?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/procrastination-is-it-really-that-bad/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/procrastination-is-it-really-that-bad/#respondWed, 20 Feb 2019 19:55:47 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8598Go ahead, ask my wife, and she’ll tell you that I’m a great procrastinator. For some reason I don’t feel the urgency of getting my newsletter done ahead of time, writing my next book chapter in advance, and worst of … Continue reading →

Go ahead, ask my wife, and she’ll tell you that I’m a great procrastinator. For some reason I don’t feel the urgency of getting my newsletter done ahead of time, writing my next book chapter in advance, and worst of all, getting to the airport in the recommended 2 hours prior to a flight.

But what’s so bad about procrastinating? I acknowledge that when there’s a critical deadline for a huge business project, I do take the pressure on and get it done.

Thinking it through, I realize that there is a process that transpires during that period of procrastinating. I’m always thinking about the project and let it percolate even taking notes, mental or physical, and planning the steps needed to bring it to fruition in my head. I’ve come to understand that the procrastination or percolation is giving my brain time to weigh options and strategies before I commit. It’s really not wasted time at all.

With this perspective, and especially in the winter, it’s good to “stew” for a bit before jumping into the end product under pressure. Procrastinating equals pacing myself. It’s all how you look at it.

So, get to work, but let things cook in your brain, then take the leap to the finish line.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/procrastination-is-it-really-that-bad/feed/0How Impactful is Your Web Copy?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-impactful-is-your-web-copy/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-impactful-is-your-web-copy/#respondWed, 13 Feb 2019 19:45:43 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8593Ever wonder what are the components of effective web copy? This is one of the challenges many of my clients face and one of the questions I am asked quite often. Five years ago, when writing the article “How Effective … Continue reading →

Ever wonder what are the components of effective web copy? This is one of the challenges many of my clients face and one of the questions I am asked quite often. Five years ago, when writing the article “How Effective Is Your Web Copy?” I described the framework and have added one more component:

Case study format – Start with the challenge, then the solution and then the results.

Powerful titles – Increase interest and grab immediate attention.

Examples – Help substantiate and further articulate your points.

Hyperlinks – Used to further engage the reader and build interest.

Testimonials – Add credibility and social proof.

Visuals – Conserve on words and make your points visually attractive and memorable.

Bullet points – Make your points practical and actionable.

Less is more – Say what you need to say in as few words as possible.

Provocative – Make them think differently or discover a brand-new way so they get to say: “I never thought of it this way!”

Mobilize to action – Stop inertia and force them to take the next big step.

As my dear colleague from South Africa, Rurik McKaiser, The Phoenix Group, said: “I just find it amazing how the right messages just come to me at the right time from the awesome Chad Barr!”

Use this framework to create your next message and see your web copy come to life and achieve greater success.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get going and create your next masterpiece.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-impactful-is-your-web-copy/feed/0State of the Unionhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/state-of-the-union/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/state-of-the-union/#commentsWed, 06 Feb 2019 14:00:40 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8589This evening I am culminating my time in Israel after a full week of anticipation and fear, reflection, separation and reconnection. Being home again, driving through my childhood neighborhood and passing my old house brought me a sense of peace, … Continue reading →

This evening I am culminating my time in Israel after a full week of anticipation and fear, reflection, separation and reconnection. Being home again, driving through my childhood neighborhood and passing my old house brought me a sense of peace, wholeness and awareness of how much my life has grown and changed. With all the ups and downs and challenges that I have faced and that we all face, I was able to have a birdseye view as if seeing life from a completely different vantage point.

Family relationships and childhood connections never really break. On one hand it was as if all the years between then and now had never passed, and coming back to say goodbye to my father brought that time span into focus. I am keenly aware of the state of the union of my family, my friends and my colleagues, who have strengthened me during this time of mourning and celebration of life.

Does time heals all wounds? I am not sure of that answer. But I can certainly say that The passage of time and years allows for fresh perspectives. This evening while Americans are tuning into the state of the union, I have enjoyed a week of tuning in to the state of the union of my family and my life. And I must admit, I am humbled and blessed and truly grateful for all that I have passed through in just these past 10 days.

I hope to continue these kinds of conversations with all of you, my dear friends, clients and colleagues, who have sent out words of comfort and condolence to me and my family. Your kindness and your thoughtfulness have made this journey all the more peaceful. Looking forward to reconnecting with all of you in the days and weeks ahead and ensuring that our unions stay strong.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/state-of-the-union/feed/2With a Heavy Hearthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-a-heavy-heart/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-a-heavy-heart/#commentsWed, 30 Jan 2019 17:52:12 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8584Dear friends and colleagues, I write today’s newsletter with a heavy heart. It is evening in Israel, and I am sitting here with my sister, family and friends remembering my beloved father, who passed away this morning at age 91 … Continue reading →

I write today’s newsletter with a heavy heart. It is evening in Israel, and I am sitting here with my sister, family and friends remembering my beloved father, who passed away this morning at age 91 and buried this afternoon as is our faith’s custom.

My dad, Tzvi, was a hard working man, having survived WW II and arriving in Israel as a young man in 1947. He became a builder, and with his hands helped create the thriving nation which is my birthplace.

He was a lover of music, spoke 5 languages, fluently, and a published author of heartfelt poems which were set to music.

He reached his hands out to those in need, built bridges among the varied people of Israel, fought in its many wars and raised a family in love.

He was an inspiration to all who knew him and I’m a better man for having him in my life. May he Rest In Peace for a life well lived and well loved.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-a-heavy-heart/feed/2Lessons Learned from Years of Creating Global Digital Empires®https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lessons-learned-from-years-of-creating-global-digital-empires/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lessons-learned-from-years-of-creating-global-digital-empires/#respondWed, 23 Jan 2019 22:23:34 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8578Creating remarkable content is one of the key attributes of the most successful global thought leaders. Over the years, I have helped many of our clients create thousands of pieces of content in a variety of media formats such as … Continue reading →

Creating remarkable content is one of the key attributes of the most successful global thought leaders.

Over the years, I have helped many of our clients create thousands of pieces of content in a variety of media formats such as articles, podcasts, videos, books and courses. My key objective when working with clients is to extract their wisdom and creatively, artfully and successfully share it with the world.

Yesterday, I was privileged to host in my studio my client and friend, trademark attorney and expert, Erik Pelton, (shown in the picture) and work on crafting new and amazing content, which will be available on videos on his site shortly. So, stay tuned.

Here are some of my key takeaways from our session together:

It takes courage to be out there and commit to creating powerful content to impact others.

It also takes both mental and physical energy to deliver content with passion and enthusiasm.

Preparation is vital for content quality and confidence building.

Being in the moment is as important as getting prepared.

Applicable and interesting stories and examples are the glue that keeps us engaged.

Having a trusted adviser who can direct and challenge you and offer advice in the moment is crucial to achieving great results.

Some clients are most at ease speaking spontaneously directly into camera or in an interview style, while others shine and excel when using a teleprompter. Both require practice.

The more you do it the better you get at it. This is my proven formula.

Do it consistently and over time you’ll notice your content being transformed into your digital empire.

Brevity rules.

What are you waiting for? Roll up your sleeves and continue shaping your own digital empire.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lessons-learned-from-years-of-creating-global-digital-empires/feed/0Web Presence Critical Pathhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/web-presence-critical-path/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/web-presence-critical-path/#respondWed, 16 Jan 2019 21:16:51 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8550When starting new clients’ projects, I am often asked to describe the process from start to completion. I use the visual and this process, when we first launch a new web presence project. I review the steps necessary to take … Continue reading →

When starting new clients’ projects, I am often asked to describe the process from start to completion. I use the visual and this process, when we first launch a new web presence project. I review the steps necessary to take the project for beginning to successful completion. I found that using this visual saves me the time of explaining it verbally. I encourage you to also consider doing something similar with your clients when launching new projects. Here is our path:

Strategy Formulation: In this phase we dive deeper to discuss the details of our client’s business. We then gain greater understanding of the various components of their business. We examine how they paint success, the essence of their business, their brand and messaging, and also understanding their buyers and their preferences and the immense value they provide thorough their products and services.

Creative Exploration: In this phase we dive into the creative discussions by brainstorming, sharing and exchanging site examples, determining colors, design, and navigation styles and preferences.

Site Outline Creation: Some refer to this phase as the website wireframe or schematic blueprint, we simply call it the site outline. It contains the logical components and navigation options that will appear on every page of the website. It does not reflect colors or design style which comes later.

Content Development: In this phase the objective is to develop the content and web copy that will appear on the site. This contains the text or web copy for the various pages, images, articles, videos, podcasts and such.

Design Phase: This is when our design team creates the look and feel and the overall creative direction of every page of the site.

Coding Phase: This is the exciting phase when the magic happens, and the site comes to life. It’s when the concepts, design and content all come together into a fully functional website.

Testing: In this phase, we get to test the functionality of the site and make sure all is working as we prepare it for a successful launch. We also train our clients on certain functions they rather do.

Live: All the hard work is finally paying off. This is when we launch the site, announce it to the world and start leveraging its value.

So, what is your critical path to execute a project from ideation to fruition?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/web-presence-critical-path/feed/0Where Are You Going? Reflections from 2018https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going-reflections-from-2018/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going-reflections-from-2018/#respondWed, 09 Jan 2019 21:53:36 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8543Another year has ended as we embark on a new one with unknown challenges, adventures and opportunities. As I reflected, here are my top six insights corresponding to each month of the year. Stay tuned to next week when I … Continue reading →

Another year has ended as we embark on a new one with unknown challenges, adventures and opportunities. As I reflected, here are my top six insights corresponding to each month of the year. Stay tuned to next week when I will share my next six insights:

Creating our global digital empires® start with the commitment of sharing our valuable insights, the discipline to take action and do it often, while leveraging a variety of publishing platforms to engage our audiences. Some of my clients have done an extraordinary job creating, strengthening and growing their remarkable content, offerings and business.

What steps should you take this year to significantly grow your digital empire and its effectiveness?

We are not immune from escaping challenges. I’ve experienced it personally and observed it happening to family, friends, colleagues and clients. I’ve concluded that the keys to get through and overcome such are: developing our strong mindset, learning to become resilient, creating a support system, having a plan B and even C, raising our sense of gratitude, and realizing that most challenges are often opportunities for growth.

What can you do to become more resilient and prepared for the unexpected?

Collaboration with others has the potential of expanding your business exponentially. Whether inviting others to contribute to your newsletters and podcast channel or being invited to be a guest contributor on theirs. What about the possibilities of penetrating new global markets by partnering with others and complementing your offerings?

Who in your network should you collaborate with and who outside your network should you meet?

Identifying the attributes of your best clients and prospective clients and focusing on attracting only these type clients to work with will transform your life and business. Here are the attributes of my best prospective clients.

Have you identified the attributes of your best clients and have you committed to only partner and serve these type clients?

Your biggest competition is you and your negative thoughts and lack of action towards your goals and dreams of achievement. One of the effective ways I have found to eliminate inertia is to surround yourself with those, genuinely interested in your success, who will push you beyond your comfort zone. The other way is to identify challenges that will get the momentum going to incorporate your passions, gifts and value.

What is the first and most important thing you will do today to create the highest impact for you and your clients?

For many of us, entrepreneurs, the lines of demarcation between work and pleasure are blurry. Since I love what I do, and as long as I can remember, work has never felt like work and therefore I could easily find myself devoting many hours to working on projects. A few years ago, I realized, perhaps what’s obvious to all of you, that discovering a new hobby, a cause I believe in, or a new learning that is outside my area of work expertise has enriched my life beyond my expectation. I refer to this as growth opportunities for the heart.

What new developmental experiences should you explore to become the music for your heart?

Take a moment to reflect on your 2018 and identify your key challenges, insights and opportunities. What have you learned? Where will you go now? Would love for you to share.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going-reflections-from-2018/feed/0Internet Monetizationhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/internet-monetization/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/internet-monetization/#respondWed, 02 Jan 2019 20:28:29 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8484How does one leverage the Internet to monetize their business and increase their revenue? It boils down to successful brands, successful products and services, increased revenues that are executed over time. Let me articulate further: Brand: The more products, services … Continue reading →

How does one leverage the Internet to monetize their business and increase their revenue? It boils down to successful brands, successful products and services, increased revenues that are executed over time. Let me articulate further:

Brand: The more products, services and intellectual property you create, that is directly and uniquely attributed to you, the stronger and more successful your brand becomes. For example, one of the brands I have created is: Creating Digital Global Empires® which is also a registered trademark. I know for a fact that many of our clients think of us when they think of creating their digital empire. What action can you take today to start building, nurturing and strengthening your various brands?

Products and services: You need to have something effective to sell on the Internet in order to monetize it. It could be online courses, books, webinars, even access to you. What products and services can you create and market on the Internet?

Revenues: When your brand is strong, and you have exciting and desired products and services to market on the web, your revenues are sure to climb.

As I noted in the visual, the longer your brand, products and services have been around and the more success they have gained, the more their inherent impact on your revenues and your ability to effectively monetize your Internet efforts.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/internet-monetization/feed/0Season of Joyhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/season-of-joy/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/season-of-joy/#respondWed, 26 Dec 2018 15:00:57 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8476Season of Joy It’s really cold outside, and fueled by the wind, the effect is truly bone chilling. But that doesn’t stop this Clevelander from enjoying the displays and frantic energy that abounds all around downtown as Laurel and I … Continue reading →

Season of Joy

It’s really cold outside, and fueled by the wind, the effect is truly bone chilling. But that doesn’t stop this Clevelander from enjoying the displays and frantic energy that abounds all around downtown as Laurel and I trekked around bundled up, with camera, zoom lenses and tripod. Surrounded by the ice skaters twirling, falling or just hanging onto railings for dear life, Cleveland residents and tourists leisurely strolled through the lit trees, twinkling arches and stopped to make memories on their cell phones posing in front of the giant Christmas illuminated trees on Public Square.

Repeatedly we were stopped and asked to take a photo on someone else’s cell phone, so families and friends could be captured together. One thing was clear, everyone was smiling and laughing, huddled together, unphased by the cold and darkness. It’s no coincidence that so many major religions celebrate festivals of light during the darkest months of the year. It gives us the opportunity to light up the world with hope of a brighter tomorrow for all people, everywhere.

At this season, I hope your families will be surrounded by warmth, love and light and may that bright spark continue to bring joy throughout the New Year ahead.

Best wishes and happy holidays to all my clients, friends and colleagues. Wishing you peace; at home, in your heart and in our world.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/season-of-joy/feed/0Attributes of My Best Prospective Clientshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-my-best-prospective-clients/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-my-best-prospective-clients/#respondWed, 19 Dec 2018 20:20:58 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8451A little over a year ago I reflected on the attributes of my best prospective clients and have reached the conclusions that there are nine key attributes: Responsive Serious Enthusiastic Honest Purposeful Ask Open Action Rewarding Here is the infographic … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-my-best-prospective-clients/feed/0Creating High Instant Credibilityhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-high-instant-credibility-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-high-instant-credibility-2/#respondWed, 12 Dec 2018 21:06:56 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8417Ever wonder how credibility is quickly gained and achieved when visitors arrive to your site? There are five critical components to attain such credibility. Here they are: Clients’ List: This is the page on your site that lists your clients … Continue reading →

Ever wonder how credibility is quickly gained and achieved when visitors arrive to your site? There are five critical components to attain such credibility. Here they are:

Clients’ List: This is the page on your site that lists your clients by name and potentially also shows their logo or photo. The more clients listed the higher the credibility gained. Imagine visiting a page that only lists a few clients vs. one that shows hundreds of them. It should be obvious that the more clients displayed on this page, the higher social proof created, and credibility reached.

Clients’ Testimonials: This is the page that showcases the testimonials received from your clients in text or video or even audio formats. As I suggested above, for this page to be effective, you should display as many testimonials as possible. I recommend each testimonial to be succinct and to focus on the key results your clients were able to achieve by virtue of working with you. If you are successful and fortunate to receive testimonials from all your clients, you could actually do without the clients’ list page and just use the testimonials page instead. I highly suggest you visit our testimonials page on our site to see a powerful example of such page.

Clients’ Results: This is the page that demonstrates the possible results your clients achieve or should expect to achieve when working with you. You should list the most powerful results such as “Generate dramatic increase to revenues” or “Gain financial freedom” and substantiate each with proof of testimonials or case studies.

Case Studies: This is the section that proves why your clients hire you. Each case study should contain three sections: the challenge your client was facing when they first met you, how did you go about overcoming this challenge, and the remarkable outcome and results they achieved by getting your products and services.

Your Intellectual Property: This is where you lead with your unique and powerful content in a variety of formats such as: articles, videos, podcasts, transformation visuals®, infographics, online courses and such.

Incorporating these five components in your strategy will help create high instant credibility for visitors to your site. Consequently, I’d be remis not to suggest that it takes work, discipline, creativity, delivering value and taking action to master these components.

I am thrilled to announce the launch of our new web presence for The Chad Barr Group. This took several months of brainstorming, soliciting ideas from our clients, dedicated hard work by my amazing team while squeezing this huge project among the many other clients’ projects.

And it’s finally here with my hope that it would serve YOU better by providing you with insights to create and strengthen your million-dollar web presence and global digital empire.

So, what’s new? Here are some of the highlights:

Completely redesigning the entire look and feel and the user interface, to make it hopefully clearer and easier to navigate.

Featuring our clients Testimonials and Portfolio to showcase their business and results. By the way, I encourage you to watch the short (4.5 minutes) video testimonials collage my team has created which you can view on the top of the testimonial page. Would love to create one for you.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/new-web-presence-for-the-chad-barr-group/feed/2Dominating the Webhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dominating-the-web/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dominating-the-web/#respondWed, 28 Nov 2018 20:09:12 +0000https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=8221Creating a powerful web presence is like putting together a complete jigsaw puzzle in just the right way. It’s not easy, but the end result is impressive and remarkable. Whether you run a small services company or a large corporation, … Continue reading →

Creating a powerful web presence is like putting together a complete jigsaw puzzle in just the right way. It’s not easy, but the end result is impressive and remarkable.

Whether you run a small services company or a large corporation, the puzzle pieces are the same: strategizing, marketing branding, socializing, publishing and monetizing. Understanding how these six components fit together is critical to dominating the web. If you neglect one puzzle piece, the whole picture falls apart.

So how do you put it all together? At The Chad Barr Group, we’ve got it down to a science:

Strategizing: Strategy is the heart of web domination. The first step to building a powerful web presence is to create a robust business plan. Without one, your web presence will lack a solid foundation and fail to generate momentum. To strategize effectively, answer the following questions: What does success look like for your business? Who are your buyers? What interests them? What do you offer that makes you irresistible to your client base? Your answers to these questions will form the basis of your business strategy.

Marketing: If strategy is the heart of web domination, then marketing is the oxygen flow. Without a clear, effective marketing plan, your business strategy will flat-line. You must create a marketing blueprint to drive your business plan, no matter what industry you’re in. Whether you choose to blog, leverage social media, establish newsletter campaigns, or build email lists, marketing is critical to attracting the right buyers. A truly successful marketing strategy won’t just draw customers to your business–it will compel them to make the first move, approaching you directly.

Branding: Branding is the creative cousin of marketing. While marketing gets your message out there, branding develops the message itself. Every company should have a unique brand that sets it apart. Think of Coke and Pepsi–two products that are now synonymous with soda. These drinks have such strong branding that they literally dominate the way we talk about sweet carbonated liquids. So what’s your Coke or Pepsi?

What sets you apart from your competition, and defines your niche in the marketplace? Most people can’t answer these important questions. Establish your unique identity by finishing these sentences: I am the expert on _________. My company is known as the __________.

Publishing: Great content is crucial to web domination. The top thought leaders in every industry are prolific publishers of remarkable content. Whether you’re a one-person operation or a hundred-employee company, your business must publish great content to generate interest from your target market. Establish a consistent flow of blog posts, articles, videos, and podcasts to solidify your web presence. The key is to share your intellectual property directly with your ideal customers.

Socializing: Even if you do everything else right, your web presence will falter if you don’t leverage it by socializing. Don’t be the person sitting in the corner at a networking event. Make a concerted effort to forge deep connections, strike up good conversations, and create trusting relationships. The advent of social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, Instagram and Pinterest has brought the social world to your fingertips. Utilize every possible social mechanism to give your company maximum exposure.

Monetizing: Even after you’ve put together the first five pieces of the web domination puzzle, one remains: monetizing. You’ve created a standout business strategy, implemented your marketing plan, branded your company, established a publishing mechanism, and committed to socializing. Now it’s time to make money from it all. Make sure that every aspect of your web presence is geared toward your strategy buyers. Present your potential customers with tremendous value that can’t be ignored. And start reaping the profits.

Focus on the six key components to web domination: strategizing, marketing, branding, socializing, publishing, and monetizing. With a holistic approach, you can build a truly remarkable web presence.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dominating-the-web/feed/0Gratitude Filled Holidayhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/gratitude-filled-holiday/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/gratitude-filled-holiday/#respondWed, 21 Nov 2018 19:09:43 +0000http://66.132.229.239/?p=8186Photo by: Chad Barr – My amazing grandkids The British mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead wrote; “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” As Thanksgiving … Continue reading →

The British mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead wrote; “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am keenly aware of the blessings of which I am surrounded both personally and professionally. I am grateful for the friendship, help, advice and insight that my team, colleagues, clients and family so graciously provide me throughout the year.

Thanks, are not quite enough but my gratitude for all that I have been provided and worked for rekindles the spark of joy in my life and creates enduring happiness.

Wishing you and your families a wonderfully joyous and gratitude filled holiday.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/gratitude-filled-holiday/feed/0Attributes of Million Dollar Producershttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-million-dollar-producers/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-million-dollar-producers/#respondWed, 14 Nov 2018 21:51:10 +0000http://66.132.229.239/?p=7862One of the questions I hear quite often is to identify the attributes of million-dollar producers. Here are the top 6 attributes I have observed: Build contacts: The ability to create and build a list of powerful contacts that consist … Continue reading →

One of the questions I hear quite often is to identify the attributes of million-dollar producers. Here are the top 6 attributes I have observed:

Build contacts: The ability to create and build a list of powerful contacts that consist of existing and potential clients, influencers, partners and journalists. The key is to consistently build and nurture this list to achieve great trust and a powerful brand.

Market effectively: I often refer to them as marketing machines, which means, they realize that no matter what their business is, the key is to learn how to market themselves successfully.

Attract and engage: When marketing is done effectively it creates an attraction, which then brings qualified inquiries and clients to you. Engaging them successfully is critical in order to transform them from being interested in you to becoming your client.

Execute with discipline: Many I meet, suffer from what I call the “entrepreneurship addition.” In other words, they are addicted to and are distracted by ideas that derail them from what should be their main focus. The best, are able to focus on one or very few ideas of which they are passionate about, convey the utmost potential impact for their clients and offer the highest financial rewards for them. They then execute these ideas with great discipline and speed towards completion and often achieve breakthrough results.

Create Value: They innovate and create a unique variety of product and service offerings that offers great transformational value to others, which then make them become irresistible. They are consistent and frequent in the creation of such value.

Exude confidence: They are confident in who they are and the outcomes they are able to achieve for their clients and for themselves. They strongly believe in their purpose, are enthusiastic and are dedicated to leave a powerful legacy by impacting others.

There are, of course, more than six attributes and I will conclude by adding one more. They are Risk Takers and by that, I mean, they often take modest to great risks to follow their vision and dreams.

Although success is subjective, and a million-dollar is an arbitrary figure, I assure you that by focusing on these six attributes, you are certain to increase the quality and success of your life and business and for those around you.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-million-dollar-producers/feed/0Transforming Your Web Successhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/transforming-your-web-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/transforming-your-web-success/#respondWed, 07 Nov 2018 20:06:10 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6361In the article How to Promote Your Web Site that I wrote a little over six years ago, I discussed various ways of promoting and leveraging your web site to increase your web presence, global reach and success. Over the … Continue reading →

In the article How to Promote Your Web Site that I wrote a little over six years ago, I discussed various ways of promoting and leveraging your web site to increase your web presence, global reach and success. Over the years I kept on adding more insights to this article and I use it as a powerful tool for review with my clients.

Since I believe that a picture is often worth a thousand words, I had my creative design team create the infographic you see below.

Another great example in:

Repurposing older content.

Consistently improving existing content.

Leveraging imagery to improve our message and its effectiveness.

Raising the Barr®

If you’d like to discuss how to transform your content and web presence success for Creating Digital Global Empires®, contact me.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/transforming-your-web-success/feed/0To a Brighter Futurehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-a-brighter-future/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-a-brighter-future/#respondWed, 31 Oct 2018 20:46:51 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6347Photo by: Chad Barr How should I open this week’s newsletter? With the tragic events of last week that have shaken our nation to its core, it’s important for us to not dwell on the horror but to look beyond … Continue reading →

With the tragic events of last week that have shaken our nation to its core, it’s important for us to not dwell on the horror but to look beyond and find a way to heal this great nation.

As you know, I’m an immigrant to this land, in the religious minority, where the opportunities for success, growth and freedom, personal and religious, were many. I spoke virtually no English when I arrived, and through years of schooling and hard work, I’ve mastered the language, mastered a business and honed my passion for music, photography, technology and the web. Only here, in this place, were all those things possible.

My gratitude is immeasurable for all that I’ve been gifted with the past 40 years in America.

So where do we go from here?

We reach out to one another; we hope, we listen and we pray that this too shall pass.

The Muslim community of Pittsburgh has donated over $200,000 to their Jewish friends to help bury and rebuild the lives of the grieving Jews. They’ve pledged to walk with them, literally, to their synagogues, to the grocery store and to hold their hands when they are fearful. That is love.

I know that we will go from this darkness back into the light. We can and we will. It begins with each and every one of us. Here’s to a future that is brighter than ever.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/to-a-brighter-future/feed/0Time for Instantiationhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-for-instantiation/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-for-instantiation/#respondWed, 24 Oct 2018 20:07:03 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6344Photo by: Chad Barr One of my favorite words is instantiation or to instantiate. Its meaning is to make the complex simple. My opinion is that we are all guilty (self included) at creating too much complexity in our life … Continue reading →

One of my favorite words is instantiation or to instantiate. Its meaning is to make the complex simple. My opinion is that we are all guilty (self included) at creating too much complexity in our life and business. Occam’s Razor theory suggests that of any set of explanations for an event occurring, it is most likely that the simplest one is the correct one.

I work with some of the smartest individuals in the world. Yet, one of the key challenges they face and struggle with is how to take their ideas, experiences and wisdom, stored in their heads, and convert them into their intellectual property that manifests itself it in a variety of media formats. Although, for many, this seems almost as an insurmountable mountain to climb, by taking baby steps the solution becomes rather simple:

Write down your succinct insights as bullet points. You may then post them on the various social media platforms or as tweets.

Combine multiple insights or tweets into a logical sequence and create a bulleted or a numeric checklist.

Add an opening and a concluding paragraph and you now have your article ready to distribute.

Choose some of your insights, articulate and add further explanation to each by using examples, experiences and your opinion, and you now have created your position or research paper. You may even complement this further by adding your diagrams and visuals.

There is a hidden treasure in your pithy insights that many can become the topic of another unique article, position paper or even your next book or workshop.

Select and organize multiple articles in a logical order and you have now created an eBook or a book for you to publish.

This book can then be positioned and transform itself into a live workshop or an online course where each chapter can become a separate module and each sub-chapter becomes a segment in that module.

Through the power of instantiation, sharing your intellectual property and taking action, you are now well on your way to create and strengthen your digital footprint and global thought leadership.

No matter where you are in your journey for Creating Global Digital Empires® and for impacting the world, there should always be room for Raising the Barr®.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-for-instantiation/feed/0Creating Global Digital Empires®https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-global-digital-empires/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-global-digital-empires/#respondWed, 17 Oct 2018 19:15:09 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6340In working with, and observing some of the most successful global entrepreneurs, I have concluded that one of the key components of effective global thought leaders is their consistent and exhaustible ability to publish provocative and powerful content. This content … Continue reading →

In working with, and observing some of the most successful global entrepreneurs, I have concluded that one of the key components of effective global thought leaders is their consistent and exhaustible ability to publish provocative and powerful content.

This content often manifests itself in various formats which includes posting tips and ideas on the various social media platforms, personal quotes, producing written articles on blogs, newsletters, print and online publications. Increasingly, there are shared audio interviews and valuable episodes distributed through podcasts and webinars, published books, diagrams and infographics known as my Transformation Visuals™, that craft a series of videos, and create live and online courses. Yet, many still struggle with getting their ideas out of their heads and wrestle with how to effectively manifest and leverage those thoughts, insights and wisdom.

In order to resolve this challenge of developing great content and helping you in Creating Global Digital Empires®, I developed a simple framework, which has helped hundreds of my global clients. This framework can be used to construct a short article, podcast or video. It contains three parts:

Identifying one of the key challenges your clients are facing.

Defining three powerful insights to resolve this challenge.

Inviting them to contact you.

To clarify this concept, let me share an example with you. I want to create a short video that will engage and help my audience in finding where their key challenge is and how to create a successful web presence. The three insights or components I will discuss are strategy, content and marketing. Here is a sample script using my framework:

“Over the past 30 years I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most successful global entrepreneurs and organizations. Yet one of the key challenges they all face is their inability to create a successful web presence that generates dramatic outcomes and results. So, if this is one of the challenges you or your organization are facing, there are three insights I would like to share with you in order to help resolve this challenge.

Number one is your strategy. You must first develop a powerful strategy by identifying your key buyers by age, gender, location, their preferences such as what they read, listen to and watch, and their challenges, hopes and aspirations.

Number two is crafting your amazing content, with tips on the various social media platforms, writing articles for your newsletters and other publications, creating podcasts, webinars and videos, publishing books, infographics, and online courses. For your content to be effective, engaging and remarkable, it should be pithy, powerful and provocative. The simple benchmark I use to determine the quality and provocativeness of the content is to analyze the immediate reaction to the content. Here are two possible responses:

“So, what?” meaning; I have heard this concept before and it is mediocre at best.

“I’ve never thought about it this way” or, “wow, this is great stuff!”

Third, and lastly, are your marketing initiatives, of which I have identified thirty four in my Marketing Blueprint transformation visual™ which are located on my website. Initiatives such as newsletters, special reports, social media involvement, assessments, eBooks, Workshops, Press releases, Interviews and affiliate programs, to name a few.

Over the years I have observed that the most successful entrepreneurs and organizations are leveraging these three concepts to create extraordinary web presence that generates dramatic success for their business.

So, let me ask you, are you leveraging these concepts in order to dramatically impact and increase your business? If this resonates with you and you would like to discuss how to transform your business, contact me to help you get started on making some dramatic changes that will make you not only a thought leader, but a business champion. Some of the best relationships I have created over the years have started with a simple conversation just like this one.”

This is the essence of my framework. The key is to make sure the stated challenge is a pressing issue for your clients, and the shared insights are unique, powerful and generate interest.

All that is necessary is to record this video, present it with authority, passion and enthusiasm, post online and let the inquiries come in.

Additionally, there is a hidden contextual treasure in developing content with numeric or bulleted lists. I could easily take any of the three points in my example above, and develop additional and detailed, unique content for each one of these points that could stand on its own.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is your amazing content and digital empire. Begin creating and strengthening your content today and watch your business transform and your empire come to life.

What is one of the key challenges your clients face and what are the three profound insights to resolve this challenge? Use my framework and now go and create your next masterpiece.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-global-digital-empires/feed/0The Great Disconnecthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-great-disconnect/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-great-disconnect/#respondThu, 11 Oct 2018 00:29:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6337Photo by: Chad Barr I’ve been talking recently about looking at things we know through a new lens and a different vantage point. I’ve had the great opportunity this last two weeks to explore through my multiple camera lenses the … Continue reading →

I’ve been talking recently about looking at things we know through a new lens and a different vantage point. I’ve had the great opportunity this last two weeks to explore through my multiple camera lenses the vast expanses of the west, namely, Utah.

Sunsets, and sunrises, leaves deepening colors, desert, arches and a search for the Milky Way in the vast horizon and night sky.

This rich experience, has allowed me to clear my head, open my eyes and connect with nature and this incredible land in a way I never dreamed.

Cell phone coverage has been spotty at best and non-existent at most locations. Who knew that the great disconnect, the real unplugging of my head, would allow me to reconnect to life, create new thoughts and ideas and expand my passion for my hobby and my business?

I found that stepping away propelled me forward to the next plateau, enveloped by the incredible beauty and splendor that is found in the mountains, rocks, lakesand vistas here in Moab populated with creatures that seem to reflect the serenity of their surroundings.

I encourage all of you to make time to leave the electronic world behind for a few days or weeks and see where it leads you. You may be surprised that your return has been energized and your batteries recharged without an electric plug or device in sight.

In 1983, as our kids were growing up, we decided to move to our present home, which being newly constructed, afforded us the ability to choose some finishing touches. My home office was in place, lined with shelves that have become bowed under the weight of hundreds of books I acquired over the 24 years here. The once trendy floors and colors have become dated and dull like the winter grey days here in Cleveland.

I’ve found that the surroundings can have a profound effect on creativity and productivity no matter where your office is. So last week, we started painting the interior of our home and office, changing the trends of the 80’s for a lighter, neutral palate. One coat of paint has made a dramatic difference in this tired interior and has offered me a different view of what is already here.

What small changes in your business or web presence could propel you into a different direction? A new vista can jump start your thinking into a new and more creative direction and revitalize your energy. Perhaps all you need is just a fresh coat of paint!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/revitalize-your-energy/feed/0Recent Reflections and Insightshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/recent-reflections-and-insights/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/recent-reflections-and-insights/#respondWed, 26 Sep 2018 21:02:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6326I was just reflecting on some of my recent thoughts, insights and those shared among my clients. Here are the top 10 I came up with: As water can carve a stone so can your consistent actions over time shape … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/recent-reflections-and-insights/feed/0Stay In Tunehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stay-in-tune/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stay-in-tune/#respondWed, 19 Sep 2018 13:02:38 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6319It's taken some time, but I finally brushed the dust off my classical guitar case and had my guitar spruced up and a microphone pick up installed. It's not that I don't play often, mostly for fun and to entertain my grandkids, but it's been a long time since I've played professionally and worked with other musicians in tandem to create ... Continue reading →

It’s taken some time, but I finally brushed the dust off my classical guitar case and had my guitar spruced up and a microphone pick up installed. It’s not that I don’t play often, mostly for fun and to entertain my grandkids, but it’s been a long time since I’ve played professionally and worked with other musicians in tandem to create something special.

I’ve been working with the pianist from our old jazz band, to accompany the worship services for my wife and her clergy colleague in a brand-new spiritual venture. Getting back in sync musically, with other musicians is something I’ve missed.

Most days I sit alone in my office, with eyes fixed on the three computer screens splayed out across my desk, talking with clients, prospects and professionals in my business with the phone headset perched on my ear.

I didn’t realize how much I’ve been missing being part of this musical team until now. I recognized that making music alone, as great as it is, is so much more exciting when reuniting with my bandmates just as it is in business when brainstorming and creating with other masterminds, teammates, clients and great thinkers.

If we are great alone at the helm of our company, imagine the force we can become when we forge ahead with new business partners, relationships in exciting new ventures?

Even if music isn’t your passion or talent, in what ways can you combine your best skills with others to create something you’ve never imagined possible alone? I look forward to hearing what your creative teamwork produces. Stay in touch and stay in tune!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stay-in-tune/feed/0We Rememberhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remember/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remember/#respondWed, 12 Sep 2018 19:35:15 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6315Photo by: Chad Barr September 11, 2001. I had brought my entire team to Las Vegas for a leadership growth experience that concluded that fateful morning. We arrived at the airport only to learn the horror of tragic events that … Continue reading →

September 11, 2001. I had brought my entire team to Las Vegas for a leadership growth experience that concluded that fateful morning. We arrived at the airport only to learn the horror of tragic events that had transpired only moments before our arrival. The impact of that event changed the life of every American and surely citizen of the world that day. We scrambled, trying to find flights only to learn that every outbound flight had been canceled. We tried to rent a van to drive cross country but every vehicle, large and small at the Las Vegas rental counters were taken. Our last hope was the Greyhound Bus and by sheer luck there were a few seats available. We began our journey home.

Over a period of days, with many, many stops along the way until Cleveland, we sat together, each of us pondering, alone in our thoughts and sometimes aloud, how our world was forever changed that day. We voiced our grief over the immense loss of life and how in an instant, a life can be snuffed out or just as easily, enter this world. The answers would eventually come, but the understanding of the event might not.

During this season of repentance and forgiveness, I’m afforded the time to improve my thoughts and my actions with renewed purpose. Each day is a new opportunity to protect this great planet, its citizens and work towards peace. My message this day is simple: continue to work for the day when we are together and at peace. If we each do a little, one by one, then in groups, we grow into a great force. On September 11, 2001, I realized how precious life is and how quickly it all changed.

Counting on each of us to bring out and be the change for good in our world.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remember/feed/0Looking back, looking forwardhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/looking-back-looking-forward/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/looking-back-looking-forward/#respondWed, 05 Sep 2018 20:00:14 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6309Photo by: Chad Barr This Sunday evening, we will usher in the Jewish New Year 5779. I will have the privilege of joining my wife in leading worship services, accompanying her on guitar. One of the highlights of this service … Continue reading →

This Sunday evening, we will usher in the Jewish New Year 5779. I will have the privilege of joining my wife in leading worship services, accompanying her on guitar. One of the highlights of this service is hearing the sounds of the shofar, the ram’s horn; 100 blasts in all!

It is a time for us to be awakened by the sounds, and to look inward at our deeds and our actions over the past year. As we reflect, we notice where we have fallen short, where we were just adequate and most of all, where we can improve.

With time to reflect, I acknowledge that, no matter how well things are going, there’s always more that I can do. Striving to be more compassionate to those who are struggling or facing challenges in business or personally, to listen better, and ultimately, reach out to those in need, without judgment, in our world fraught with division, strife and troubles.

Indeed, there is plenty to agonize over but there is so much good out there too. I look forward to sharing the successes and challenges that may come our way as I reach out with more strength, conviction and gratitude in this New Year.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/looking-back-looking-forward/feed/0Is it time to take down your blog?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-it-time-to-take-down-your-blog/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-it-time-to-take-down-your-blog/#respondWed, 29 Aug 2018 16:32:26 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6305If you are posting valuable content to your blog and do so consistently, kudos to you, my sincere respect and appreciation as you may want to skip this article. Otherwise, I encourage you to continue reading. A few questions I … Continue reading →

If you are posting valuable content to your blog and do so consistently, kudos to you, my sincere respect and appreciation as you may want to skip this article. Otherwise, I encourage you to continue reading.

A few questions I would like to ask you:

When was the last time you posted valuable content to your blog?

How frequently do you do so?

How many gaps in time are clearly shown when viewing your blog?

Blogs are the ultimate repository of your intellectual property, where the manifestation of your ideas, news and shared knowledge come to life and archived for the future. It is the main hub in your domain where you can post and share your announcements and insights, do so in a variety of interesting formats (Text, audio, video, visuals) while pushing it out to be shared on other platforms such as video and audio channels, the social media channels and on other blogs.

Unfortunately, I come across too many blogs that are outdated or there are too many gaps of times between posts. Some hide this by removing the date from their posts while others perhaps don’t realize the strong and negative statement they are making. What statement are you making, what is your blog saying about you and your business, and what are your clients thinking when you are not posting consistent value?

I believe that our clients reach out to us for our fresh and new insightful ideas that result in success. Sure, we all have some great ideas from our past that are very much applicable. Yet the question is how do we consistently reinvent ourselves and our clients by leveraging these old and new ideas and how do we best demonstrate it?

Blogs are one of the effective ways of doing so and especially when done with consistency and great value.

How would our world be different if all the great thinkers of history and our time decided not to share their wisdom with the world? I say it’s time for all of us to think of ways of Raising the Barr®!

If this article has provided you with the push needed to get back to consistently sharing your insights through blogging, or perhaps that it’s time to raise the quality and frequency of your posts, I am thrilled and would love hearing from you. However, if you have nothing else to say or share and do so consistently, I highly recommend you take your blog down. I hope it’s the former.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-it-time-to-take-down-your-blog/feed/0With Passion and Enthusiasm Please!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-passion-and-enthusiasm-please/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-passion-and-enthusiasm-please/#respondWed, 22 Aug 2018 21:10:57 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6297Photo by: Chad Barr Have you ever sat through a dreadful live presentation feverishly looking for the exit sign? Or have you ever watched or listened to a mind-numbing video or podcast on the web and abandoning it quickly? I … Continue reading →

Have you ever sat through a dreadful live presentation feverishly looking for the exit sign? Or have you ever watched or listened to a mind-numbing video or podcast on the web and abandoning it quickly?

I review a lot of content on the web and must admit that much of it is not only boring or blah but the content itself is mundane or lacks in value and the delivery is flat with no energy and excitement.

When helping my clients to create content in my studio or through Skype, I often remind them of the need to deliver their message with gusto as I always say: “with passion and enthusiasm please!”

So, before you create your next podcast or video, here are the top three things I urge you to consider and implement:

Deliver a message of power and stimulation that would prompt them say: “Wow! I never thought of it this way!”

Brevity rules and is always preferred. Why ramble if you can deliver your message in a fraction of a time and length? Your busy audience is going to appreciate it and you can then take the afternoon off or create your next episode.

With passion and enthusiasm please! Deliver your message with energy and excitement that demonstrates how much you are enjoying it as well. This would keep them engaged, at the edge of their seat and wanting more.

Before creating your next masterpiece think of how you can deliver it with passion and enthusiasm.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-passion-and-enthusiasm-please/feed/0Whom Do You Admire?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whom-do-you-admire/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whom-do-you-admire/#respondWed, 15 Aug 2018 21:03:07 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6285Photo by: Chad Barr I admire the courage of Golda Meir and Nelson Mandela, the brilliant mind of Peter Drucker, the design innovation and foresight of Gaudi, the creation of the new frontier and landscape by Steve Jobs, the painting … Continue reading →

I admire the courage of Golda Meir and Nelson Mandela, the brilliant mind of Peter Drucker, the design innovation and foresight of Gaudi, the creation of the new frontier and landscape by Steve Jobs, the painting of Van Gogh, the images captured by Ansel Adams, the financial success of Warren Buffett, the remarkable innovations of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, the sound, composition and music of Mozart and Pat Metheny, and the empire created by Oprah. I of course could go on and on with my admiration of many others.

This last weekend I decided to visit, again, the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and was enamored by the beautiful design work of Frank Ghery, Canadian born American architect whose architectural work is world-renowned. As I was reviewing the images captured by my camera and many others that are available on the web that feature his design, I quickly realized how much I admire his work.

Photo by: Chad Barr

What is it then that make me admire these individuals?

It is the:

Value they stand for and their leadership

Unique work

Innovation and creativity

Often recognized work and strong brand

Ability to stimulate the mind, sight, sound and emotions

Creation of a WOW reaction in other words “I wish I did that!”

I’ve been fortunate to have many of our clients admire our work, creations and results.

So, let me ask you: Whom do you admire and when it comes to your work, creation and results, do others admire you?

Let us all commit to keep Raising the Barr® and creating remarkable work that is worthy of being admired by others.

I would love to hear from you and hear your thoughts. Drop me a line, comment below and if this is of interest, share with others.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whom-do-you-admire/feed/0How Do You Paint Success?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-do-you-paint-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-do-you-paint-success/#respondWed, 08 Aug 2018 20:53:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6277Photo by: Chad Barr One of the most powerful questions I often ask myself and my clients is “how do you paint success?” in other words, if you were to fast forward into the future, what does success look like? … Continue reading →

One of the most powerful questions I often ask myself and my clients is “how do you paint success?” in other words, if you were to fast forward into the future, what does success look like? This question is crucial in helping us identify and formulate our strategy and create and shape our future. So why is it that most don’t invest the time and energy to frequently paint their future success? How else would one achieve it if it is not clearly identified, articulated and painted?

Success, of course, is subjective and means different things to different people. To some it’s about revenues, for others it may be the freedom to choose, leaving a legacy, impacting others, building an empire, improving the world, innovating and many other definitions.

Here are a few of my suggestions to help you get started or improve:

Stimulate your mind by finding a quiet place to reflect, dream and plan. I recall reading that Bill Gates does this yearly and for a couple of weeks at a time. Start with an hour a week and go from there.

Surround yourself and meet with creative and successful people that you trust and feel invigorated when you are with them.

Think big and dream even bigger.

First, use a method of capturing your ideas and insights. Don’t filter or critique any of them. Collect all possible ideas that come to mind and place them on a whiteboard, journal, computer or whatever capture media that works for you.

Next, review your ideas and pull out a few of top ones that you are most passionate about, that represent the utmost potential for you and your clients, and convey the highest market demand.

Finally, create an action plan and a schedule for you to take action and bring these ideas to fruition.

I would love to hear from you and hear your ideas. Drop me a line, comment below and if this is of help, share with others.

Start painting your success today and see your blank canvas transform itself and see your empire come to life.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-do-you-paint-success/feed/0Bit by Bit, Putting it Togetherhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bit-by-bit-putting-it-together/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bit-by-bit-putting-it-together/#respondThu, 02 Aug 2018 05:53:18 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6266I have repeatedly said that as thought leaders and experts in our fields, we should be quoting ourselves, and often. In January 2013, I committed to post weekly newsletters and over five years later, without missing a week, I’ve accomplished … Continue reading →

I have repeatedly said that as thought leaders and experts in our fields, we should be quoting ourselves, and often. In January 2013, I committed to post weekly newsletters and over five years later, without missing a week, I’ve accomplished that including today’s, 291st posting. Last July 2017, I pledged to publish my daily quotes, five days a week, and I am proud to say that exactly a year later I just wrote and posted number 255!

What’s next? I just selected the top 75 quotes which are going to be compiled and published in my next book. This is an example of repurposing content and creating a refreshed digital foot print.

Barbra Streisand made this Sondheim song famous with these lyrics:

Putting it together;

Bit by bit, putting it together
Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art
Every moment makes a contribution
Every little detail plays a part
Having just a vision’s no solution
Everything depends on execution
Putting it together, that’s what counts
Now, go out and create!

Building and creating an innovative and evolving digital empire begins with one word, one sentence, one paragraph, and one article at a time. All together, these become the building blocks of our intellectual property, products and services and the digital empire that is created piece by piece almost effortlessly, right before our eyes.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bit-by-bit-putting-it-together/feed/0Whose support are you seeking?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-support-are-you-seeking/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-support-are-you-seeking/#respondWed, 25 Jul 2018 19:38:01 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6260Every day real life experiences never cease to provide fodder for my weekly newsletter thoughts. Our daughter and son-in-law have been fortunate to have found employment nearby in Columbus and arrived this week to begin unpacking and also discovering all … Continue reading →

Every day real life experiences never cease to provide fodder for my weekly newsletter thoughts. Our daughter and son-in-law have been fortunate to have found employment nearby in Columbus and arrived this week to begin unpacking and also discovering all the unexpected problems, small and large, that come along with owning an older home. The job of finding a reputable, reliable and competent tradespeople is now the challenge.

A highly recommended handyman who reportedly can do “anything”, shows up late, takes an early lunch and works at a snail’s pace. A superbly nice guy, very experienced but certainly not what they had expected. The promised 5 day to completion has entered its third week with no end in sight.

How does one find a reliable expert? Certainly reviews are helpful. But word of mouth, references, referrals from your trusted clients and testimonials are a good approach. Someone else’s positive experience is one of the best keys to hiring a trustworthy expert.

Ultimately, buyer beware in all aspects of business; there are few true guarantees but get one in writing if you can.

Do your due diligence on all projects and areas of need. Speak with your experts, ask questions to clarify what you don’t fully understand and move on to another expert if the work isn’t as expected.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-support-are-you-seeking/feed/0Content Success Frameworkhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/content-success-framework/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/content-success-framework/#respondWed, 18 Jul 2018 15:01:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6256What’s the framework of an effective and powerful piece of content, such as a podcast, a video or even an article? Let me first share an example with you and then further clarify: “For several decades, I’ve been fortunate to … Continue reading →

What’s the framework of an effective and powerful piece of content, such as a podcast, a video or even an article? Let me first share an example with you and then further clarify:

“For several decades, I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most successful entrepreneurs and organizations in the world. Yet, one of the key challenges they share with me that they face is what are the components of an effective and successful web presence.

There are several key components to achieve such success and here are the top three:

First, is your strategy: Which is the definition of how you paint success and create your future. Then the attributes of your clients, what their preferences are, their dreams and aspiration and how you contribute to their transformations. Finally, what constitute the makeup of your remarkable offerings in products and services.

Second, is your content: Which is your digital empire creation(r) or your intellectual property and the way you establish your expertise and claim your thought leadership. These are your articles, newsletters, books, workshops, webinars, courses, podcasts, videos, and membership sites to just name a few.

Third, is your marketing: Which are your inbound and outbound initiatives you take to attract buyers to you: speaking engagements, collaborations with others, being interviewed and interviewing others, sending out newsletters, social media exposure and much more.

How are you using these components to strengthen and increase your web presence success and how effective has it been for you?

If this resonates with you and you’d like to discuss how to significantly increase your success, reach out by email or phone and let’s discuss how to transform your success, because some of the best relationships I have created have started with a simple conversation just like this one!”

Let me now further identify my framework:

Establish your credibility

Identify the challenge you will discuss

Share the value to overcome the challenge

Challenge or provoke them

Invite them with a call to action to engage you

Use this framework to craft and develop your future powerful content and share with us.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/content-success-framework/feed/0What Are You Creating Next?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-you-creating-next/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-you-creating-next/#commentsWed, 11 Jul 2018 20:43:36 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6253I was just chatting with one of my clients, reflecting on his prolific creation of great content in the past. I then asked him “so what should you work on creating next?” He paused, thanked me for the question, and … Continue reading →

I was just chatting with one of my clients, reflecting on his prolific creation of great content in the past. I then asked him “so what should you work on creating next?” He paused, thanked me for the question, and then said: “I appreciate you positively acknowledging the creation of content in the past yet focusing your question on the future!”

Most of us take some time off in order to reenergize at times. However, the key from my perspective is to find a way to keep our momentum going with consistency and innovation.

So how do you determine what you should create next? Simply answer the following questions:

What new products, services, innovations or other creations get you excited when you think about them?

What key challenges and potential transformations have your clients been facing that you can help them with?

What have your clients suggested you create?

What trends do you see evolving?

What opportunities exist that you have wanted to capture but have not?

What have you started that you would love to complete?

What do others do that you can do better?

What ideas scare you or push you outside your comfort zone?

Now, I suggest you make a list of all your answers, then pick out the one that:

You are most obsessed about

Suggests the highest need your clients have

Brings out your highest talents and skills

Conveys the utmost potential impact for your clients and for you

Next, take action and move this from inception to fruition. The magic and the remarkable potential outcomes are when you complete and launch your next idea and then pick out the next one in line and start taking action.

Go through this process, choose what you are creating next, share with us and get started.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-you-creating-next/feed/1The Words That Symbolize This Great Nationhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-words-that-symbolize-this-great-nation/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-words-that-symbolize-this-great-nation/#respondWed, 04 Jul 2018 13:00:09 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6246Photo by: Chad Barr This has been a banner year. A Star-Spangled Banner year, for sure. So much controversy, conversation and discussion into how Old Glory is a part of the fabric of this country and how Americans see it … Continue reading →

This has been a banner year. A Star-Spangled Banner year, for sure. So much controversy, conversation and discussion into how Old Glory is a part of the fabric of this country and how Americans see it as a symbol of freedom as well as a symbol for struggle or legal protest by its burning that was approved by the Supreme Court in 1989.

As an immigrant, the flag and the national Anthem have deep meaning for me and those of you who have been to my home know that I wave the flag in front of my house 365 days a year and have mastered the lyrics. Actually, the first stanza only…

It was written by Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet after witnessing the daylong assault of Fort McHenry by British troops during the War of 1812. Key saw the fort hold during the attack and was inspired to write The Star-Spangled Banner, by the large US flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes flying triumphantly above the fort during the U.S. victory.

The poem was set to the tune of a popular British song written by John Stafford Smith, To Anacreon In Heaven, for a men’s social club in London. Set to Key’s poem and renamed the Star-Spangled Banner, it became a well-known U.S. patriotic song. Its wide musical range made it known for being very difficult to sing as many famous and not so famous of us can attest.

It was recognized for official use by the US Navy in 1889 and by President Wilson in 1916. A congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 to make it the national anthem was signed by President Hoover.

Along with Hail, Columbia, My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, and America the Beautiful, these songs are part of this country’s history and remind us of our freedoms, our opportunities and along with our flag, the right to disagree.

I hope that this Fourth of July is a day of celebration for all of my clients, friends and family, one that inspires in us to continue to stand together, as one nation singing the words that symbolize this great nation.

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
Oh! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

“Ramparts,” in case you don’t know, are the protective walls or other elevations that surround a fort. The first stanza asks a question. The second gives an answer.

On the shore, dimly seen thro’ the mist of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep.
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream
‘Tis the star-spangled banner. Oh! long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-words-that-symbolize-this-great-nation/feed/0Growth Opportunities for the Hearthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growth-opportunities-for-the-heart/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growth-opportunities-for-the-heart/#respondWed, 27 Jun 2018 20:50:26 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6243Photo by: Chad Barr For as long as I can remember, I love investing in my continued education. It provides me the ability to stimulate my mind, explore new innovations, discover what others are doing, stay on top of the … Continue reading →

For as long as I can remember, I love investing in my continued education. It provides me the ability to stimulate my mind, explore new innovations, discover what others are doing, stay on top of the latest and greatest, exchange ideas, while meeting fascinating people.

Each year I found myself selecting several key growth opportunities to attend that would push me outside my comfort zone. Although these events were geared towards improving my business, something different started happening in the last couple of years. All of the sudden, I felt the need to also explore, expand and attend events that would make my heart sing. The kind of events that would push my artistic side in areas of the arts, design, music, and photography, to just name a few.

I just returned from one such event that took place last week in beautiful Chicago, where I got to surround myself and spend four days with some of the most talented photographers in the world. Very little sleep, 27 walking miles, great conversations, many aha moments, and my heart and brain are full.

As I was reflecting on my key insights, I’ve come to realize that each contains a photography lesson that applies to my personal life as well as my business life:

You must develop your own unique look.

When photographing people, find out what they are passionate about and engage them in that discussion. You then get the best shots in between the poses.

Get out of your comfort zone. Be courageous.

Tell powerful stories.

Plan your shoot ahead of time yet learn to react quickly and adjust your plan in the moment.

To get amazing results, evaluate the big picture first, then zoom into to midrange distance, and then start exploring the details.

Look for patterns.

Changing conditions provide a variety of opportunities.

To achieve great images, select great subjects.

Stop over-thinking everything.

If you don’t like to wake up early, become a writer.

Slow down. Breathe!

Why not find an event that will make your heart sing? I am willing to bet it will enrich you personally and expand your creative business mind.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/growth-opportunities-for-the-heart/feed/0Take the Long Way Homehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/take-the-long-way-home/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/take-the-long-way-home/#respondWed, 20 Jun 2018 19:28:44 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6235Photo by: Chad Barr The famous Beatles song said it beautifully; The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear. The pop group, Super Tramp sang “Take the Long Way Home” way back in 1979. I … Continue reading →

The famous Beatles song said it beautifully;
The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear.

The pop group, Super Tramp sang “Take the Long Way Home” way back in 1979.

I was reminded of those songs as yesterday, my daughter, son in law and grandchildren arrived to begin new jobs and new adventures in Ohio. We were elated when we heard the great news and have been waiting anxiously for them to arrive here as a stop-gap before heading to their final destination in Columbus.

Flying back and forth is never an easy feat with three small children. But this time, though the movers will be there in a month to ship their belongings, they decided to take the long way home and drive to Cleveland over three days.

They saw beautiful countryside, counted 38 different state license plates and slept in not so great hotels along the way. But much to everyone’s surprise, it was a great journey with lots of great memories made along the way. (Not to mention the car sickness, but that’s another story…)

Sometimes, getting somewhere quickly isn’t always the best way. Often, in business, striving to achieve success and grow a flourishing business takes a longer or more precarious journey. But when we rush, we often miss the unexpected and unforeseen joys, new relationships, great vistas and ah ha moments that make the journey and the challenge even more meaningful.

Slow down and enjoy the journey. The impossible may only take a few minutes longer.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/take-the-long-way-home/feed/0The Sun Always Riseshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-sun-always-rises/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-sun-always-rises/#respondThu, 14 Jun 2018 03:15:17 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6232Photo by Chad Barr Cleveland was lit up and roaring with anticipation of the Cavaliers’ possible win last week here with the home court advantage. Down three games, hopes were high that the Golden State Warriors, (we fondly call them … Continue reading →

Cleveland was lit up and roaring with anticipation of the Cavaliers’ possible win last week here with the home court advantage. Down three games, hopes were high that the Golden State Warriors, (we fondly call them the Golden Girls…) would go down in flames and that somehow, the Cavs would turn it around and take the next four games to win the championship.

With LeBron out of steam, and Kevin Love all out of love, our team suffered a huge defeat that knocked the wind out of the sails for all of us, the team and fans included.

How does it feel to work so hard with a client only to have the desired result not come to fruition? What about that prospect that you’ve been working on for months with a full court press only to learn that they’ve gone with someone else. The discouragement and defeat seems insurmountable for that moment. But we only have to remember that the sun will surely rise the next morning, and we will have a fresh outlook and critical eye to where improvement needs to be. The dismal dismay gives way to plans for new ways and better approaches to avoid that momentary failure or setback in the future. In every business as in life, that seemingly crushing blow can be quickly overcome with greater results. There’s a lesson in every challenge.

Just as we anxiously await LeBron’s free agent decision, we are already thinking about next season and what it will look like. Cleveland doesn’t give up on its teams, good or bad, (think the Browns), and neither should you allow failure to take you down.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-sun-always-rises/feed/0Stop Putting it Offhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-putting-it-off/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-putting-it-off/#respondWed, 06 Jun 2018 21:04:24 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6227From Merriam-Webster: To procrastinate is to go against the old saying, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Appropriately, the word procrastinate has the Latin word cras, meaning “tomorrow,” tucked inside it, because when you procrastinate you … Continue reading →

From Merriam-Webster: To procrastinate is to go against the old saying, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Appropriately, the word procrastinate has the Latin word cras, meaning “tomorrow,” tucked inside it, because when you procrastinate you often are putting something off until the next day……

Consider this scenario:

“This is a perfect time to get some work done.”

(Your brain)…”Nope. Let’s watch a bunch of YouTube videos and then a Ted Talk, think about calling a client, and end up having pizza and watching interviews with Justin Bieber’s mom!”

By then it’s 2:00 and you have an appointment at 4:30, so it’s really too late to start any work at this point.

Does this sound at all like you? If yes, it’s time to push that procrastination thinking aside and begin to look at ways to jumpstart your business thinking and get back on track.

Here are a few ways to get going:

Make a written schedule and commit to stick to it.

Keep your calendar in front of you, in full view, and don’t avoid looking at it and the upcoming day’s work.

Cross off each task upon completion.

Eliminate distractions.

Any work not completed for that day should be moved to the next day.

Have a regular start and end time and stick to it!

Clean off your desk, computer, paperwork and mail at the end of each work day and detach.

Start the next day renewed, reinvigorated and ready to take on the tasks at hand.

Don’t over schedule your calendar. Work in small units that are attainable. No one can eat a whole elephant in one sitting!

Even the most disciplined entrepreneurs can fall prey to occasional procrastination, even myself. I’ve learned to go into the skid, but when I come out of it, I re-navigate and to stay on course, and accomplish much more than I did. I don’t beat myself up but use it as a springboard to move on ahead with greater fortitude and vigor.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-putting-it-off/feed/0It’s Magichttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/its-magic/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/its-magic/#respondWed, 30 May 2018 20:43:08 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6221Photo by: Chad Barr This past week, when the news that my kids and grandkids would be leaving Orlando, I thought back on how many times I was able to visit Disney World and the theme parks with them over … Continue reading →

This past week, when the news that my kids and grandkids would be leaving Orlando, I thought back on how many times I was able to visit Disney World and the theme parks with them over the last 7 years. Honestly, it never gets old; the wonder and the magic of the kingdom seems fresh and awesome each time. What was it about Walt Disney’s vision and drive that created this mega, magical success? Here are some of Walter Disney’s thoughts on success:

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

“Around here, however, we don’t look backward for very long. We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

“Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there.”

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

“Do a good job. You don’t have to worry about the money; it will take care of itself.”

“The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting.”

“Faith is the most important thing. If you believe in something, believe it till the end, unequivocally and without hesitation.”

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Here are my reflection points to Disney’s mega success and what has made them remarkable:

Having a vision, a dream

Taking action and pursuing that dream

Commitment to excellence

Building a strong culture and brand

Constant Innovation

Adjusting to changing times and technologies

Outstanding customer service

Resiliency

Leading the way and setting a high bar

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Do you believe in magic? I believe that when our dreams are combined with focus and massive action taking, like magic, it can all become reality.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/its-magic/feed/0Hiring Your Strategic Web Partner to Grow Your Businesshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/hiring-your-strategic-web-partner-to-grow-your-business/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/hiring-your-strategic-web-partner-to-grow-your-business/#respondWed, 23 May 2018 19:55:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6217I was recently asked to provide my insights about the following questions, focusing on hiring a strategic web partner to grow your business: 1. What should a consultant or small firm consider when hiring a strategic web partner for their … Continue reading →

How will they help you create your global digital empire and strengthen your thought leadership?

Do they understand the distinction between a web site and a web presence?

And finally, and probably the most important set of questions: What is their track record of success? Do they walk their talk and how impressive is their web presence and their clients’? What is the expected return on investment for you? What is the profound value you will receive by virtue of working with them?

I should also acknowledge that “it takes two to tango.” What I mean by this is that achieving great success is never a one-sided contribution. Both the client and their web partner have unique responsibilities in contributing to the client’s success. Having these documented and implemented with the proper accountabilities are crucial for the ultimate success of the project.

2. How do you determine if that partner has the expertise to assist a consultant or small firm in their website or digital marketing project?

I would suggest you evaluate the following three areas:

How impressive is their work and how many testimonials are featured on their site? That testimonials page should scroll down forever.

Talk with the provider to determine their expertise, pay attention to the kind of questions they ask you, and ask them how they would help you achieve your objectives.

Talk with some of their clients and ask them the tough questions especially the ones about the value gained and achieving the objectives.

3. Why shouldn’t you just select the cheapest option available?

There is that old cliché: “Cheap is not good and good is not cheap” as well as “you get what you pay for!” Just as you probably would not select the cheapest attorney to represent you in court or the cheapest doctor to perform a major surgery, this same logic applies to your web company.

The key factor to evaluate is what is the profound value you will achieve and what is the anticipated return on investment!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/hiring-your-strategic-web-partner-to-grow-your-business/feed/0Creating the Dreamhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-the-dream/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-the-dream/#respondWed, 16 May 2018 20:33:55 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6213I remember… Wishing that I could visit the US one day and perhaps even relocate there. Envisioning a day when I would be able to pick up the phone and see the other person on the other side. Wanting to … Continue reading →

Wishing that I could visit the US one day and perhaps even relocate there.

Envisioning a day when I would be able to pick up the phone and see the other person on the other side.

Wanting to build my own company in the future.

Hoping I will find the perfect woman to marry.

Planning to have a healthy family.

Hoping to be fortunate to be surrounded by a few good friends.

Expecting I would live, experience and lead a great life.

Imagining how I could impact others.

Thinking about continually reinventing myself and my company.

Expecting to meet interesting and unique business leaders.

The famous visionary, political activist, journalist and playwright, Theodore Herzl, 1860-1904 stated; “If you will it, it is no dream; and if you do not will it, a dream it is and a dream it will stay.”

Looking back, I realize that so many of my hopes and dreams have become a reality.

Don’t stop with the original list of your hopes rather keep on creating and inventing new dreams to keep you excited and planning for more intrigue, adventures and successes as you journey forward and realizing the hopes you only imagined.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-the-dream/feed/0Creating Excitement and Valuehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-excitement-and-value/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-excitement-and-value/#respondWed, 09 May 2018 20:55:11 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6204Photo by: Chad Barr This last weekend, my family and I traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate the wedding of our niece, Shoshana to her talented and amazing new husband, Ryan. A truly beautiful celebration of love and a special … Continue reading →

This last weekend, my family and I traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate the wedding of our niece, Shoshana to her talented and amazing new husband, Ryan. A truly beautiful celebration of love and a special occasion with our family as well as friends and other family members we have not seen in years. We got to relax and experience gorgeous Pasadena and even visit Disneyland and the Los Angeles Zoo.

With so many great things to experience and special reasons to rejoice, here are a few highlights, observations and new learning that I wanted to share:

I have noticed again how young kids have no fear and are not timid of expressing their emotions in public. It made me wonder what fears should we overcome and what emotions should we consider revealing or be vulnerable to in our content creation?

I realize that each day and especially during our travels, provide us with opportunities to explore new learning experiences and create exciting adventures. I am determined to keep creating new learning and new adventures for myself and my clients.

Watching my grandkids, I noticed how new friendships and relationships can be formed with others if we eliminate our biases and keep an open mind. It made me question what new friendships and relationships should we explore and form?

At the LA Zoo, I learned that elephants are able to communicate miles away in low frequency sounds that are inaudible by humans. The question that crossed my mind was what new modes of communications should we all start exploring?

Saying goodbye to our kids and grandkids and with tears in their eyes, I treasured the fact that all good things must come to an end in order to let in the greater things to take place.

Let’s all stop for a moment, appreciate the boundless gifts in our lives and how privileged we are and commit to embark on new learning experiences and creating something of excitement and value.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-excitement-and-value/feed/0When is it OK Not to be Perfect?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-is-it-ok-not-to-be-perfect/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-is-it-ok-not-to-be-perfect/#respondWed, 02 May 2018 20:42:23 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6198Photo by: Chad Barr My wife recently hired a new gardener when we got the news that our previous gardener of 20 years was retiring and selling his business. The rates were not comparable and while the spring clean-up was … Continue reading →

My wife recently hired a new gardener when we got the news that our previous gardener of 20 years was retiring and selling his business. The rates were not comparable and while the spring clean-up was good, it wasn’t nearly perfect. It reminded me that cheap is not good and good is not cheap! But after all, it was just twigs, leaves and grass that needed be manicured and discarded from the property.

Where do we need to strive for perfection in our lives? Certainly, we’d want our physician to be perfect in a diagnosis and treatment. And when developing software, anything less than perfection is a cause for many headaches, and possible disasters.

For those who believe in the Biblical story of creation, you will know that each day created was announced as good or very good. Never was there an exclamation of “this is perfect!” Imagine a world where there was never any room for improvement or the opportunity for growth. For the hundreds of consultants and organizations that I’ve been privileged to serve, I know that you are continually striving for excellence. And most of you achieve it and reap the rewards of your time, effort, and wisdom.

But for those who work to perfection and find themselves spinning their wheels, know that sometimes less than perfect is actually, perfect! Perfectionism can lead to frustration, disappointment and ultimately failure.

Look critically at your working plan. Are you the best you, or are you striving to be the perfect everything personally and in business? It’s a lofty goal that may not be worth the pain and sweat of trying to pursue perfection when very good, excellent and personal best can be good enough.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-is-it-ok-not-to-be-perfect/feed/0Anxiety of Changehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/anxiety-of-change/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/anxiety-of-change/#respondWed, 25 Apr 2018 13:38:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6194It’s Wednesday, middle of the week, and time for reflection once again. It’s been a busy start to my week; calls, consulting and all the work that I enjoy so much. I’ve just dropped my wife, Laurel, off at the … Continue reading →

It’s Wednesday, middle of the week, and time for reflection once again. It’s been a busy start to my week; calls, consulting and all the work that I enjoy so much. I’ve just dropped my wife, Laurel, off at the airport so she can fly to Orlando to watch the grandkids, (lucky grandma), as our son in law and daughter fly to a big job interview up north. Anxious? That’s an understatement!

Change is never easy. The unknown prospect of big changes can be frightening, daunting and harrowing. The adults keep their anxiety mostly in check. But my grandchildren have no filters on their expression of worry to the upcoming move.

Our oldest is upset. She’s adamant about not leaving the only house and city she’s ever truly known. At 9, she’s entrenched at school and has made what she believes are her best lifelong friends. She’s not sleeping at night and worries constantly about the unknown.

Number 2, 6-year-old, said he can’t wait to leave. A rambunctious boy, he is anticipating the new house, the prospect of snow, and making new friends in a new place. But he’s not sleeping well out of excitement!

The little 3-year-old has no clue what this means and she remains happy, giggly and sleeps just fine! A real blessing.

We all make changes in our lives and businesses with unknown and often undetermined outcomes. For some, the idea of something new is exciting and the anticipation Adrenalin pumping. Others are nearly paralyzed with fear.

Change is inevitable. The question is how do you react to change? Do you see it as a door closing or as a window opening with new opportunities? I believe the difference is a profound success mindset perspective that reduces or possibly eliminates anxiety.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/anxiety-of-change/feed/013 Marketing Insights for Increased Successhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-increased-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-increased-success/#respondWed, 18 Apr 2018 20:08:58 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6189Back in January of 2016 I published my article on the 13 Marketing Insights For Great Success. Since a picture is often worth a thousand words and I believe our Transformation Visual™ are worth a thousand pictures, we recreated this … Continue reading →

Back in January of 2016 I published my article on the 13 Marketing Insights For Great Success. Since a picture is often worth a thousand words and I believe our Transformation Visual™ are worth a thousand pictures, we recreated this as an infographic. Another great illustration of the power of infographics as well as how to repurpose our content in different methods.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-increased-success/feed/09 Attributes of My Best Prospective Clientshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/9-attributes-of-my-best-prospective-clients/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/9-attributes-of-my-best-prospective-clients/#respondWed, 11 Apr 2018 14:17:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6180I’ve interacted with hundreds of prospective clients over the years. Many became clients of ours while others did not. I’ve learned what the best attributes are of my prospective clients. Here is the list I have created: They are responsive … Continue reading →

I’ve interacted with hundreds of prospective clients over the years. Many became clients of ours while others did not. I’ve learned what the best attributes are of my prospective clients. Here is the list I have created:

They are responsive which means they answer calls and emails, attend scheduled appointments and meetings and rarely or never cancel them.

They are serious in their pursuit of the right solution and partner and don’t waste their time or mine.

They are honest and share openly the questions around their challenges, budget and how they would paint success.

They are enthusiastic and love what they do and they bring their passion to their work and the conversations. You can hear it in their voice.

They have a clear purpose as to why they do what they do and how they impact their clients.

They ask great questions.

They are open for feedback and especially to new ideas that will improve and transform their business and life.

They are ready to move forward quickly, make a change, take action and Raise the Barr®. They follow through on their commitments.

They become a great and rewarding client to work with for many years to come.

An unpleasant prospective client can become a very unpleasant and difficult client. On the other hand, a good prospective client, usually becomes a remarkable client, an asset to your organization and someone you treasure investing your time and energy with.

I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible prospective clients who have joined together with my company and are great clients who are a pleasure to serve. I hope you are one of them!

Pay attention to these attributes and the potential warning signs to avoid tremendous frustration and waste of time.

Books — Compiling your knowledge and publishing in books and booklets both digital and paper.

Podcasts — Sharing your wisdom through audio recordings and distributing through your site and other audio channels.

Process Visuals — Showcasing your knowledge, explanation and recommendations through graphic images of diagrams and infographics since a powerful image could take the place of a thousand words.

Videos — Sharing your intellectual property through the use of video recordings and distributing through your site and other video channels.

I’ve created the visual you see on the screen to illustrate this concept.

To leverage and increase your success for each of the 6 areas above, I recommend you identity the following four actions for each:

Ideation — What is the remarkable idea you about to embarked upon and how will it help and transform your audience?

Creation — Schedule the time to create your idea and bring it to fruition.

Marketing — Identify the marketing initiatives to get your audience to discover and desire your creations and their need to own them.

Monetization — What are the ways you should consider implementing to monetize your ideas and creations?

If you still have any doubts, just explore and review some of the top successful global leaders and you would sure to notice how they all dominate their niches in these areas and action steps. It’s your turn now!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-digital-empire-success-wheel/feed/0The 30-Day Challengehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-30-day-challenge/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-30-day-challenge/#respondWed, 28 Mar 2018 20:39:53 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6172I don’t know about you, but I love a good challenge. Are you up to one? As we are heading towards the month of April, which has 30 days, I thought it would be fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding to … Continue reading →

I don’t know about you, but I love a good challenge. Are you up to one? As we are heading towards the month of April, which has 30 days, I thought it would be fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding to launch this new 30-day challenge for all of us. I am not suggesting you take on all 30 over the next 30 days. I would be happy if you start with one!

Here is my list of recommendations for your consideration:

Do something uncomfortable outside your comfort zone

Create something remarkable

Complete the project or idea you previously started

Make a connection with past clients

Develop and enjoy your hobby

Take time off

Energize yourself throughout the day

Commit and follow healthy living

Impact the world and make it a better place

Hug your loved ones and tell them you love them

Thank your clients and other special individuals

Read a new book

Identify and cultivate new areas of curiosity

Volunteer and be of service for noble causes

Dream and architect the blueprint to create your amazing future

Pick out a new hobby

Find time to smell the roses

Improve your web presence

Review and advance your marketing plan

Meet new interesting people and buyers

Pinpoint and establish the right accountability partner

Organize yourself, your day and your systems for optimum performance

Create a new topic or concept, write and publish about it and present where possible

Remove toxicity from your life

Help someone in need

Embrace new experiences such as food, music, travel, and workshops for the mind, body and soul

Identify the five individuals you will surround yourself with who would challenge you to raise your game

Create an experience for others to enjoy, learn, get inspired and prosper

Instantiate where possible and simplify the complex

Lead others to a better future

And here is my bonus challenge for the months that have 31 days: Pick one and get started today.

Are you willing to let complacency or fear hijack the best of you and your future? Of course not! Join and follow me by accepting the 30-day challenge yourself?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-30-day-challenge/feed/0Million Dollar Web Presence – Chris Cooper Interviews Chad Barrhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/million-dollar-web-presence-chris-cooper-interviews-chad-barr/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/million-dollar-web-presence-chris-cooper-interviews-chad-barr/#respondWed, 28 Mar 2018 15:17:16 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6167Hidden among the chaos and hype, there are secrets to success on the web. Globally renowned inter-net expert Chad Barr is joining me to reveal them – and show you how to use them to amplify your web presence and … Continue reading →

]]>Hidden among the chaos and hype, there are secrets to success on the web. Globally renowned inter-net expert Chad Barr is joining me to reveal them – and show you how to use them to amplify your web presence and profits. Using the unmatched reach of the web, entrepreneurs are empowered to take a more tactical, brand-driven approach to attracting new clients and reinforcing the relationships with their current clientele—quickly raising the bar to produce better results for their brand and their business. During the show we will be discussing the critical areas that can be immediately enhanced to emphasize creditability and instantly build trust among visitors. Join us for a show that could set you well on the way to a million dollar presence.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/million-dollar-web-presence-chris-cooper-interviews-chad-barr/feed/0Hidden among the chaos and hype, there are secrets to success on the web. Globally renowned inter-net expert Chad Barr is joining me to reveal them – and show you how to use them to amplify your web presence and … Continue reading →]]>The Chad Barr Group55:57Make Your Markhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-your-mark/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-your-mark/#respondWed, 21 Mar 2018 19:49:44 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6163I thought Cleveland was on a roll with great weather; we had 4 consecutive days of sunshine and cold temps while waiting for spring. And spring finally arrived and brought winter with it…..again…… Another 8 inches of snow and grey … Continue reading →

I thought Cleveland was on a roll with great weather; we had 4 consecutive days of sunshine and cold temps while waiting for spring. And spring finally arrived and brought winter with it…..again……

Another 8 inches of snow and grey skies cue me to look for inspiration on my business path. I wanted to share with you some quotes from truly exceptional leaders to spring you forward as well.

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s. “What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.”

Golda Meir, fourth Prime Minister of Israel. “Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”

Socrates, a found of western philosophy. “The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.”

Oprah Winfrey, media proprietor. “Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.”

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle Corporation. “When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for people telling you that you are nuts.”

Mark Cuban, owner of Landmark Theaters and chairman of AXS TV. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. It doesn’t matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you because all that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are.”

Walter Disney, found of the Disney Brother Studio and Disneyland. “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Michael Dell, founder of Dell. “You don’t need to be a genius or a visionary, or even a college graduate for that matter, to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.”

Charles Darwin, naturalist, geologist and biologist. “It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.”

And finally, from me, Chad Barr, Founder of The Chad Barr Group. “Life presents us with amazing gifts and opportunities. The key is to learn to pay attention to the signals, take risks and view the challenges we face along the way as the signs that we are on the right track.”

Many before you have created masterpieces from their failures and dreams. What quote and legacy describes your success?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-your-mark/feed/0Your Business Ultimate Stamp of Approvalhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/your-business-ultimate-stamp-of-approval/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/your-business-ultimate-stamp-of-approval/#respondWed, 14 Mar 2018 20:42:36 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6159Testimonials are the powerful social proof needed to convince interested clients of your credibility, track record of success, and insights as to how they too can achieve such results. They become your business ultimate stamp of approval. A client of … Continue reading →

Testimonials are the powerful social proof needed to convince interested clients of your credibility, track record of success, and insights as to how they too can achieve such results. They become your business ultimate stamp of approval.

A client of mine just asked for my recommendations for testimonials best practices and here is my reply:

The more testimonial you gain and have, the more you can use them on your site, newsletters, social media and such to gain credibility and interest.

For testimonials to be effective they should be short 30 – 90 seconds each, especially you are going to create a collage of several testimonials.

The key focus of the testimonial should be on the 1 to 3 key impact(s) your clients have achieved. In other words, the improvement and transformation they have recognized due to your involvement.

Although the subtle objective of the testimonial is to gain credibility and persuade the other person to become a client, I would not recommend the person giving the testimonial attempts to “sell.” Focusing on their transformation will accomplish this objective.

Example-1: “Hi my name is Bob Smith. I just attended the GROWTH program and I have to tell you that for me, as the CEO of my organization, this represents breakthrough thinking. For the first time, I feel that we can finally resolve our key challenges and decision process.”

Example-2: “I have attended the GROWTH program last year, and the impact on our organization has been nothing short of remarkable. We have grown our profits by 28% and GROWTH is the reason”

Notice in both examples there is no rambling, which unfortunately too many testimonials suffer from.

The testimonials should focus on what you are trying to promote. For example, a variety of testimonials for:

Sharing the amazing experience of listening to you as a speaker and how it mobilized them to take immediate action.

Stating the growth to the organization due to brining you and your team as consultants.

The ability for the organization to finally gain the clarity and make the right strategic decision to enter new markets because of the use of your products and services.

The best opportunity and timing to get testimonials is when you are with your clients and they are excited about you or when they share their successes with you.

The language I use is: “Bob, listening to how profound and impactful this (project / program / app / presentation / process / research) was for your organization, it would mean the world to me if you would be willing to provide me with a brief testimonial” Assuming they agree, simply ask them to state their name, title and organization and talk about the 1 – 3 key impacts. I always mention that I would like them to do it 3 times so I may then have the option to choose the one that is best.

I often remind clients of what I believe has been the most profound impact to their organization. Once they agree, I ask for the testimonials.

Another example is make some kind of an “offer” at the end of your presentations for those who volunteer to provide you with a testimonial.

Make a list of clients that you can contact for such testimonials. If there is a way to record them on video in good quality that would be the best.

Testimonials may be solicited or unsolicited. Both are powerful and effective although unsolicited testimonials are always a great and pleasant gift.

Whether in person, or on the phone, or via email or through the social media platforms such as LinkedIn get into the habit of asking and requesting testimonials.

Place them on the various pages of your site, your social media platforms, diverse publications and your books and let your clients do the bragging.

Lastly, when asking for testimonials, it would be a great opportunity to ask for referrals as well. Example: “You mentioned how important our research project has been for your organization. Who else would you recommend we contact that would benefit from such research?” Once they mentioned some names, I would ask them to make the initial introduction.

Optimize your opportunities and timing to solicit testimonials from your clients. It will transform your business. And if the spirit moves you and you like this article, send me a testimonial as well. I will forever cherish it and you!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/your-business-ultimate-stamp-of-approval/feed/0Spring Awakeninghttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening/#respondWed, 07 Mar 2018 20:27:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6155Let me be honest, Cleveland weather isn’t always easy to deal with. Every year whether the ground hog sees or doesn’t see his shadow, winter always returns with a few strong blasts and with it more snow piles. We have … Continue reading →

Let me be honest, Cleveland weather isn’t always easy to deal with. Every year whether the ground hog sees or doesn’t see his shadow, winter always returns with a few strong blasts and with it more snow piles.

We have enjoyed a few beautiful warm days that raise one’s spirits and then next, grey skies and winds make a hasty replacement.

So what? Why sweat it? Nothing lasts forever and we all know that if we had to deal with something or someone bothersome for extended periods of time, we probably couldn’t handle it. But for a day or two or three, it’s really a piece of cake.

In business, as in our daily lives, we each face that challenging individual, our inability at times to write the amazing content, or get to the conference with great speakers and groundbreaking wisdom.

As Cleveland weather changes daily or even hourly, so too are the opportunities for each of us to repurpose and recharge our daily business ventures.

Our next greatest opportunity is only a moment away. Go for it. Spring is right around the corner.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/spring-awakening/feed/0Time to Reflect Againhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-to-reflect-again/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-to-reflect-again/#respondWed, 28 Feb 2018 21:55:15 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6152From time to time I like to reflect on what’s happening in my life and business, recent conversations with clients, colleagues and friends and my key learning points. Here are today’s 10 reflection points: Happy clients become loyal clients and … Continue reading →

From time to time I like to reflect on what’s happening in my life and business, recent conversations with clients, colleagues and friends and my key learning points. Here are today’s 10 reflection points:

Happy clients become loyal clients and when they achieve success because of your contribution they become your viral spread and convince others to become your clients.

Setting bold goals and priorities and then executing them one at a time is the key to reducing the feelings of being overwhelmed and is also the key to success and balance.

Any worthy challenge can and should be broken down into five or seven key moves to get the momentum going towards successful resolution and amazing transformation.

Do you love your profession and what you do? If you do, you are fortunate. If not, find a way to adjust and fall in love with it or explore another profession.

What other passions have you developed or pursued to add excitement and challenge to your life?

Too often I observe the need to pursue perfection, which causes aggravation, complacency and paralysis while completely missing the key objectives and target.

If you ever feel down on yourself, go attend an Al-Anon meeting and listen to the stories. You will appreciate how fortunate you are.

Want to feel amazing? Take a walk and then some deep breaths, drink water, and go help someone in need. Then reward yourself.

Pay close attention to the conversations you have with your clients, colleagues and advisers. Much of the ideas discussed can be repurposed as powerful content, products and services.

Identify relationships you should pursue in order to create new innovations that you could not accomplish on your own. It will expand your capabilities exponentially and have a dramatic impact on others.

What are your thoughts and reflection points for this week? Please share.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/time-to-reflect-again/feed/0Get Noticed! Reduxhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-noticed-redux/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-noticed-redux/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 20:05:20 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6144A little over five year ago I wrote about the power of acronyms in my Get Noticed article. Since you probably already know that I am a huge fan in the use of visuals, I had my team recreate the … Continue reading →

A little over five year ago I wrote about the power of acronyms in my Get Noticed article. Since you probably already know that I am a huge fan in the use of visuals, I had my team recreate the concept as an infographic. This is a good illustration of the power of infographics as well as how to repurpose our content in various other methods.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-noticed-redux/feed/013 Ways to Promote Your Podcastshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-ways-to-promote-your-podcasts/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-ways-to-promote-your-podcasts/#respondWed, 14 Feb 2018 22:17:02 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6132I recently received a question (which I get quite often) from one of my clients as to how to best promote the podcasts they create. Here are 13 ways to do so: Brand – Assign a unique and memorable name … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-ways-to-promote-your-podcasts/feed/0Thought Leadership and Creating Global Digital Empires with Chad Barrhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/thought-leadership-and-creating-global-digital-empires-with-chad-barr/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/thought-leadership-and-creating-global-digital-empires-with-chad-barr/#respondFri, 09 Feb 2018 05:00:25 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6128Chad Barr, Founder and President of The Chad Barr Group, is an Internet marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience transforming businesses through technology innovation. Born and raised in Israel, Chad arrived in the United States at age 22, … Continue reading →

]]>Chad Barr, Founder and President of The Chad Barr Group, is an Internet marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience transforming businesses through technology innovation. Born and raised in Israel, Chad arrived in the United States at age 22, determined to capture the American dream. He founded his own technology company in 1987, and quickly became a globally sought-after software developer, mentor and strategist.

The Chad Barr Group works with clients on multiple continents including the UK, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Israel, and across the United States. Chad helps his clients leverage the web to dramatically transform their businesses and establish a powerful web presence. His firm, The Chad Barr Group, is recognized as one of the leading strategic Internet development organizations in the world.

Chad devotes his time to writing, coaching, consulting, speaking, and leading his clients to greater successes. A prolific writer about the web, marketing and business strategy, he has published hundreds of articles. He also co-authored the book Million Dollar Web Presence, which demonstrates how to leverage the web to build your brand and transform your business.

When he is not working with his clients, Chad revels in his latest role as grandfather to three wonderful (and, of course, brilliant) grandchildren. A former professional guitarist, Chad especially enjoys playing guitar for his grandchildren, who think he is the coolest guitarist in the world.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/thought-leadership-and-creating-global-digital-empires-with-chad-barr/feed/0Chad Barr, Founder and President of The Chad Barr Group, is an Internet marketing strategist with over 30 years of experience transforming businesses through technology innovation. Born and raised in Israel,
The Chad Barr Group works with clients on multiple continents including the UK, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Israel, and across the United States. Chad helps his clients leverage the web to dramatically transform their businesses and establish a powerful web presence. His firm, The Chad Barr Group, is recognized as one of the leading strategic Internet development organizations in the world.
Chad devotes his time to writing, coaching, consulting, speaking, and leading his clients to greater successes. A prolific writer about the web, marketing and business strategy, he has published hundreds of articles. He also co-authored the book Million Dollar Web Presence, which demonstrates how to leverage the web to build your brand and transform your business.
When he is not working with his clients, Chad revels in his latest role as grandfather to three wonderful (and, of course, brilliant) grandchildren. A former professional guitarist, Chad especially enjoys playing guitar for his grandchildren, who think he is the coolest guitarist in the world.
Reference: Wisdom of Friends Talk Show – Season 3 Episode 27]]>The Chad Barr Group1:07:13Create something you never imagined possiblehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/create-something-you-never-imagined-possible/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/create-something-you-never-imagined-possible/#respondWed, 07 Feb 2018 21:05:41 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6122In the past few weeks I published the profound lessons I have learned from some of the top thinkers who have had their impact on me and lead with great thoughts. I’ve been saying for years that “You can’t position … Continue reading →

In the past few weeks I published the profound lessons I have learned from some of the top thinkers who have had their impact on me and lead with great thoughts. I’ve been saying for years that “You can’t position yourself as an object of interest and a thought leader by constantly quoting others!” So today, I would like to share some of my own favorite quotes as I also encourage you to publish and share yours.

Contact each of your clients and provide them with one new idea that will immediately impact their growth.

Devote significant time to the most important things in life, especially family and friends; so, you don’t end up wishing you had.

Become the catalyst that helps reinvent and reenergize your clients.

When passion is an integral part of our business and our life, beauty then is evident.

Your talent and skills are important but secondary to your marketing abilities. Learn to market yourself!

Small improvements executed over time become outstanding results. The three improvements you are focusing on right now are…

Do you boast about your client’s success or do they do? The former is fluff, the latter a proven fact. Lead with testimonials.

Completing your next project is not complicated, you just need to take action and start at step one.

Who have you surrounded yourself with that makes you a better version of you?

Create something you never imagined possible.

You owe it to yourself, your family, your clients and the world to share your insights and wisdom.

The way to create wealth is to keep creating insightful and valuable offerings that make you irresistible.

Create powerful and lasting rituals that force you to enthusiastically stay on track.

The best writing advice is to JUST WRITE!

If you aren’t taking your web presence seriously, why should others?

Identify the toxicity in your life that should be immediately eradicated.

What is it costing your business to do nothing? Which of your dreams have you abandoned?

If you had a magic wand to change one thing, what would it be? When will you start?

The most profound impact for your clients: Lead and take them into the future!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/create-something-you-never-imagined-possible/feed/0Most Profound Life and Business Lessons Learned from My Clientshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-my-clients/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-my-clients/#respondWed, 31 Jan 2018 21:57:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6116In the past couple of weeks, I dedicated my weekly newsletter to sharing the profound life and business lessons I have learned from some of the remarkable men and women thought leaders. Today, I am going to dedicate my newsletter … Continue reading →

In the past couple of weeks, I dedicated my weekly newsletter to sharing the profound life and business lessons I have learned from some of the remarkable men and women thought leaders. Today, I am going to dedicate my newsletter to the insights gained from some of my amazing clients:

Phil Symchych:

Full speed ahead!

Col. John Boggs:

True courage is having the mental quality that recognizes the fear of danger or criticism but enables a person to proceed in the face of it with calmness and confidence.

Becky Morgan:

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Always ask “Why?”

Dr. Alan Barnard:

Good people make and often repeat bad decisions for very good reasons.

Jeffrey Scott:

Grow your people, your leaders and your team and they will grow your company!

Susan Trivers:

Be sure that everything you’re willing to wait for is worth the wait.

Chris Ruisi:

Those who complain about a lack of success in their lives or careers have not yet made the choice to be successful. They’ve only made the choice to complain.

Dr. Tom Verghese:

Regardless of what model you use to give feedback, the key aspect is to ensure that you are giving feedback.

Kris Putnam-Walkerly:

Your chances of success are greater if you pick one thing you can impact and align your resources toward that goal.

Peter Holland:

Living in an age of social media with customer review sites ever more popular has meant companies and individuals can no longer provide poor service without it being made very public.

Remarkable insights from beautiful minds are all around us. We just need to better recognize and internalize them and then apply and take action.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-my-clients/feed/0Most Profound Life and Business Lessons Learned from Womenhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-women/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-women/#respondWed, 24 Jan 2018 21:25:19 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6112Last week I shared with you some of the profound insights I’ve learned from some of the brilliant thinkers I admire. I received great feedback from many of you, but was pleasantly surprised that I was not confronted with the … Continue reading →

Last week I shared with you some of the profound insights I’ve learned from some of the brilliant thinkers I admire. I received great feedback from many of you, but was pleasantly surprised that I was not confronted with the fact that my list contained only men.

This week, my newsletter is dedicated to sharing the profound life and business lessons I have learned from some of the many brilliant women I admire:

Golda Meir:

A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.

Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.

We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.

Sonia Sotomayor:

I do know one thing about me: I don’t measure myself by others’ expectations or let others define my worth.

I have ventured to write more intimately about my personal life than is customary for a member of the Supreme Court, and with that candor comes a measure of vulnerability.

It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.

Jane Goodall:

What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.

I think my message to the politicians who have within their power the ability to make change is, ‘Do you really, really not care about the future of your great-grandchildren? Because if we let the world continue to be destroyed the way we are now, what’s the world going to be like for your great-grandchildren?

Whatever we believe about how we got to be the extraordinary creatures we are today is far less important than bringing our intellect to bear on how do we get together now around the world and get out of the mess that we’ve made. That’s the key thing now. Never mind how we got to be who we are.

Oprah Winfrey:

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.

Being human means you will make mistakes. And you will make mistakes, because failure is God’s way of moving you in another direction.

Rosa Parks:

People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically… No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.

Indira Gandhi:

There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.

Have a bias toward action – let’s see something happen now. You can break that big plan into small steps and take the first step right away.

Happiness is a state of mind, you know. I don’t think you are permanently happy. One is happy about certain things and not so happy about others.

Sheryl Sandberg:

I learned that when life pulls you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again.

I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can give in to the void: the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs, constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find meaning.

I believe very deeply that the world would be a better place if it weren’t run as it’s currently run, which is by men.

Maya Angelou:

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin – find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.

Ella Fitzgerald:

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.

It isn’t where you came from, its where you’re going that counts.

The only thing better than singing is more singing.

Gloria Steinem:

There’s no greater gift than thinking that you had some impact on the world, for the better.

We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.

This country can no longer afford to choose our leaders from a talent pool limited by sex, race, money, powerful fathers and paper degrees. It’s time to take equal pride in breaking all the barriers.

Who are some of the women you admire that have or had the profound impact on you?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned-from-women/feed/0Most Profound Life and Business Lessons Learnedhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned/#respondWed, 17 Jan 2018 21:23:58 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6106Over the years, I have been impacted by many brilliant thinkers. Some are still with us and some, unfortunately, are not. Although, I could easily list hundreds if not thousands of such thinkers, today, I would like to share with … Continue reading →

Over the years, I have been impacted by many brilliant thinkers. Some are still with us and some, unfortunately, are not. Although, I could easily list hundreds if not thousands of such thinkers, today, I would like to share with you a few of the remarkable insights I’ve gained from several of these individuals that are still with us:

Neil DeGrasse Tyson:

The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it.

I know of no time in human history where ignorance was better than knowledge.

No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don’t ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives.

Brendon Burchard:

How would you 10X your achievements this year? Ask daily: How would this day go if it was your next level day and what would you bring to it? Don’t limit your next year vision based on last year situations and accomplishments.

The biggest mistake is to set resolutions only for yourself rather than and also for and with your family, clients and team. You have to help them achieve it.

You don’t have energy or joy, you generate them!

Robin Sharma:

Remember that until your vision becomes your obsession your mission will never grow into a movement.

Spend an hour a day without stimulation [no phone + no social + no people]. Get to know, develop and love yourself.

Start doing projects that scare you and embracing the pursuits that terrify you. Where your fear lives is where your transformation lies.

Steven Pressfield:

The difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits. We can never free ourselves from habit. But we can replace bad habits with good ones.

Most of us have two lives: the life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.

Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.

Seth Godin:

The most productive thing to do during times of change is to be your best self, not the best version of someone else.

I made a decision to wrote for my readers, not to try to find more readers for my writing.

One reason I encourage people to blog is that the act of doing it stretches your available vocabulary and hones a new voice.

Jeff Walker:

Our products and services become the blueprint to enable our clients to navigate the journey to success as entrepreneurs or emerging thought leaders.

Identify the gap between where your clients are and where your products and services will take them to close that gap.

One of the most important things is to build strong relationship with your list. It’s not the size of the list but the impact and connections. The value you deliver to their inbox is not just content, but hope, inspiration and aspiration. They come for the content, but stay for you!

Michael Hyatt:

You’re never as smart as you think you are when you are winning and never as dumb as you feel when you are losing.

Courage is the willingness to act in spite of fear.

I have learned to avoid this. The goal is to communicate, not to impress readers with your vocabulary.

Dan Sullivan:

10X thinking is easier than 2X thinking.

Eliminate the stuff, which is everything others do better, everything that drains your energy, and relationships that go nowhere.

Increase your energy, which is everything that you permanently love, everything that produces growth, and everything that grows confidence.

Joe Polish:

There is very little that’s impossible which is only a state of mind. When you say it’s impossible, you are shutting yourself down.

What’s the story you keep telling yourself? Divorce the story of your limitation and marry the truce of your unlimited capacity.

When you attempt to solve a problem that’s 10 times bigger, you have to reinvent yourself!

Gary Vaynerchuk:

All dreams are achieved by massive action otherwise you are just a dreamer.

One of the toughest challenges for entrepreneurs is to take something from their brains and turn it into something consumable.

I hate words without actions. Execution is what builds the biggest companies in the world. The best way to avoid procrastination is to do the things you like and delegate or outsource the rest.

Write down what are some of the amazing thinkers and insights that have impacted your life and business.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/most-profound-life-and-business-lessons-learned/feed/0The Biggest Impact You’ve Created and Experiencedhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-biggest-impact-youve-created-and-experienced/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-biggest-impact-youve-created-and-experienced/#respondWed, 10 Jan 2018 22:11:56 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6101Photo by: Chad Barr I just approached several of my clients and asked them to reflect on the biggest impact I’ve had on their life and business. I realize this may come across as self-serving, but please stay with me. … Continue reading →

I just approached several of my clients and asked them to reflect on the biggest impact I’ve had on their life and business. I realize this may come across as self-serving, but please stay with me. Here are some of their answers:

Wrote hundreds of newsletters.

Published multiple books.

Created podcasts and videos channels.

Booked more speeches.

Increased their revenues and number of clients they serve.

Strengthen their global reach and thought leadership.

Gained the confidence to deliver powerful content in print, audio and video formats.

Become well known and sought-after experts.

Stimulated and opened their mind to new learning and experiences.

Connected with their purpose, passion and the legacy they are here to create.

I then reflected on the biggest impact my clients have had on my life and business. Here are some of my answers:

Made me smarter.

Challenged me to explore new directions and offerings.

Opened my mind to new learning and experiences.

Stimulated my mind to create new intellectual property.

Supported my continued personal and business growth.

Provided the live laboratory for the creation of successful case studies.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-biggest-impact-youve-created-and-experienced/feed/0From Paralysis to Velocityhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-paralysis-to-velocity/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-paralysis-to-velocity/#respondWed, 03 Jan 2018 21:49:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6096A year ago I wrote in my weekly newsletter on the topic of Discard & Delegate! How to Defeat Your Business Paralysis. This article got a lot of great feedback. I found this process of Discard, Delegate, Outsource, Schedule, Act, … Continue reading →

I found this process of Discard, Delegate, Outsource, Schedule, Act, to be helpful for emails, messages, projects and any other decision I am facing. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, I also had my team create this visual below:

So before attempting to take action on all the requests coming your way which will evidently overwhelm and paralyze you, ask yourself:

Is it a superfluous request that you may simply discard? If so great — you are done. Otherwise continue with the next step.

Is action needed and if so can you delegate to someone inside your company? If so great — you are done. Otherwise continue with the next step.

Can you outsource to someone outside your company? If so great — you are done. Otherwise continue with the next step.

Can you schedule this in the future since it is not a high priority? If so great — schedule and you are done for now! Otherwise continue with the next step.

Is it still a high priority that requires your personal attention? If so act and take action. Otherwise reassign to one of the previous steps.

Do these five steps and you will transform yourself from paralysis to velocity, which is where great results and accomplishments are achieved.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-paralysis-to-velocity/feed/0The ABC of Successhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-abc-of-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-abc-of-success/#respondWed, 27 Dec 2017 19:29:57 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6075I love the effectiveness of visuals to communicate our messages. Three months ago, I published The A Through Z of Success Attributes in my newsletter. Since I often find a picture to be worth a thousand words, I decided to … Continue reading →

I love the effectiveness of visuals to communicate our messages. Three months ago, I published The A Through Z of Success Attributes in my newsletter. Since I often find a picture to be worth a thousand words, I decided to have my team recreate this article as an infographic. This is a good illustration of the power of infographics as well as how to repurpose our content in different ways.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-abc-of-success/feed/0Light it Uphttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/light-it-up/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/light-it-up/#respondWed, 20 Dec 2017 22:00:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6050Photo by: Chad Barr Tomorrow, December 21, 2017, we will enjoy the first official day of winter and the winter solstice, which leaves us with the least amount of sunlight of any day of the year. In Cleveland, we will … Continue reading →

Tomorrow, December 21, 2017, we will enjoy the first official day of winter and the winter solstice, which leaves us with the least amount of sunlight of any day of the year. In Cleveland, we will enjoy about 9 hours of daylight, Florida, 10 hours and our northern neighbors in Alaska, just a few short hours where the sun will skim the horizon and quickly disappear.

Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanza, three holidays which occur in the cold, dark months are commemorated with light. The candle companies thank us for our business especially during December!

As we light our candles which represent miracles, hope, unity and peace, we realize that each of us, one small light, can together create a great flame that will light the way to a better world of compassion, caring and peace.

After tomorrow’s solstice, each subsequent day will become a bit longer and brighter. With our talents, abilities, strengths and character, it is incumbent upon each of us to light up the world, enlighten our minds and always strive to be a light to our families, friends, clients and colleagues.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza and Happy New Year filled with joy and light.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/light-it-up/feed/0The Year in Reflectionhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-in-reflection/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-in-reflection/#respondWed, 13 Dec 2017 22:02:48 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6039As the year comes to a close and another is about to start, I started to reflect on some of my key learning and insights this past year and the questions I ask myself. Here is what I came up … Continue reading →

As the year comes to a close and another is about to start, I started to reflect on some of my key learning and insights this past year and the questions I ask myself. Here is what I came up with:

January:

Insights are consistently around us as they leave their trails and hints. We just need to heighten our senses and learn from our surroundings.

We are what we think about and the thoughts we allow into our minds. Handle with care.

What do you need to do in order to eliminate distractions and nonsense entering your mind next year?

February:

Offer a concierge / VIP service to your clients.

Provoke them to think differently and mobilize them to take action and make a positive and impactful change.

What is the remarkable new offerings you will provide your clients next year?

March:

Be there for your clients when they need you both mentally and emotionally.

Any goal or project, no matter how complex, can be broken down into five moves to take it from inception to fruition.

What do you need to do to become the best version of yourself in the next 12 months?

April:

Create adventures in your life to push the boundaries and expand the landscape of your life and business.

Discover your purpose here on earth and the transformation you help provide for others and yourself.

What will you do next year to help your clients reach new heights?

May:

Create your daily rituals that become your compass and oxygen to guide and propel you to move through the day with energy, passion and enthusiasm to achieve your goals.

Keep providing your clients and prospective clients with powerful and genuine value, that significantly impacts their futures, and see the relationship soar.

What questions and concerns have you heard from your clients this year and how will they shape and create your new product and service offerings next year?

June:

Identify the value you provide that enables you to achieve the freedom to choose.

Publish your ideas and insights on a variety of platforms and see your digital empire and recognized thought leadership grow.

What hobby will you start or improve to enrich your life next year?

July:

Bust down the myths that are holding you back.

Testimonials are the powerful social proof that create the credibility and convince your future clients to become your current clients.

Are there toxic relationships that you should eliminate now or next year?

August:

Improve your masterpiece creation and make sure it is effective, thoughtful, valuable and pithy.

It’s always time to reinvent your life, your business and that of your clients’. Make every day count.

Do you have the courage to do what it takes to be successful next year?

September:

Evaluate the mission critical areas of your life and business and make sure you not only have plan A and B in place, but possible even plan C.

Acronyms are both fun and effective way to create memorable content that sticks.

Who has contributed to your success? Perhaps it’s an opportunity to thank them privately or publically next year?

October:

There is always something new under the sun. You just need to pay attention, recognize and acknowledge it.

Curiosity can become your creative force and your competitive advantage.

What can you create next year that you never imagined possible?

November:

Be present in your personal and business conversations and don’t let technology distract or derail you.

Completing your big project and reaching your goal is not complicated. Just take action and start at step one now.

What steps are you taking to strengthen your global thought leadership next year?

December:

From the book: The War of Art — “Resistance is the destructive force inside Human nature that rises whenever we consider a tough, long term course of action that might do for us or others something that’s actually good. You think resistance isn’t real, it will burry you. Hitler wanted to be an artist, at 18 he took his inheritance and moved to Vienna to live and study. He entered the academy of fine arts and later the school of architecture. Have you seen any of his painting? Neither have I. It was easier for Hitler to start World War II than stare at a piece of canvas.”

From the book: The One Thing — “Achievers operate differently. They have an eye for the essential. They pause just long enough to decide what matters and then allow what matters to drive their day. Achievers do sooner what others plan to do later and defer, perhaps indefinitely, what others do sooner. The difference isn’t in intent, but in the right of way. Achievers always work from a clear sense of priority.”

From the book: High Performance Habits — “You’ll always feel out of balance if you are doing work that you don’t find engaging and meaningful.”

What geniuses will you surround yourself with next year and how will you change the world around you?

It’s your turn now to reflect and identify your profound learning and insights this year. Share it and encourage your clients to do the same.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-in-reflection/feed/0Discover the Next Big Thing One Page at a Timehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discover-the-next-big-thing-one-page-at-a-time/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discover-the-next-big-thing-one-page-at-a-time/#respondWed, 06 Dec 2017 20:05:39 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6027I love reading or listening to books. Some have made a profound impact on me, others have captured my heart and imagination, and some have even changed my life. I am astonished that many don’t read and don’t even have … Continue reading →

I love reading or listening to books. Some have made a profound impact on me, others have captured my heart and imagination, and some have even changed my life. I am astonished that many don’t read and don’t even have the interest or desire to read.

I find that books provide me the ability to:

Understand the mind of the author and meet geniuses of history as well as our time

Grasp the mindset of that time particular in history

Increase my knowledge, intellectual firepower and wisdom

My goal is to read or listen to a book a week or about 50 a year as I hope you do the same. If you are already book reader, kudos to you. If not, I encourage and challenge you to get started.

Although I could easily list hundreds of books, here is the list of my top 12:

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discover-the-next-big-thing-one-page-at-a-time/feed/05 Moves to Grow Your Businesshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/5-moves-to-grow-your-business/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/5-moves-to-grow-your-business/#respondWed, 29 Nov 2017 22:18:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=6020I recently had a great discussion with my dear friend and client, Phil Symchych, founder of Symco & Co. Our topic of discussion was how to significantly grow one’s business and enter new markets. I do acknowledge that when we … Continue reading →

I recently had a great discussion with my dear friend and client, Phil Symchych, founder of Symco & Co. Our topic of discussion was how to significantly grow one’s business and enter new markets.

I do acknowledge that when we help our clients grow their business and keep providing remarkable value, we become irresistible, which then brings in referrals, testimonials, inbound inquiries and significant new business. There are times, however, that we are ready to create new products or services and even enter new markets.

Here are the 5 suggested moves we have come up with to achieve these objectives:

Identify who your clients and offerings are. This would mean recognizing the profiles of your best clients, what are their preferences, wants and needs, challenges, habits, likes, desires and dreams. Where do they hang out, what do they read, listen to and watch and are there special events they attend? I then suggest using all the channels available to select the first 20 – 50 to target and then move to the next group. Some of these channels are: referrals and introductions from existing clients, leveraging social media platforms such as LinkedIn, approaching your advisors, colleagues and networks such as accountants, lawyers and bankers. I would also pay attention to the local and national news and jot down individuals to contact that have been mentioned or recognized. This would also means having an intimate knowledge of your products and services and which should be abandoned, promoted and innovated.

Research this group of first to contact. Study their web sites and blogs, search the Internet and the social media platforms for where they may have been mentioned. Look for mutual connections that may reveal additional insights about them. I would highly recommend you use some sort of database management system to track these contacts for your easy access and retrieval of information and further follow-up.

Approach them. There are several ways to do so: Have others introduce you to them, email or send some value and propose a meeting, call them, attend powerful networking events and present and speak whenever possible. Also connect with associations and chambers of commerce to help their members and their own growth and success.

Meet them in person or virtually. Understand their key issues and concerns. Offer great value that helps them personally and professionally and build genuine trusting relationships. Once you identify how you can be of great help, and have sensed their enthusiasm to proceed, put a proposal together.

Engage them in becoming a client. This is where the journey starts of building relationship and trust and focusing on significantly impacting their business.

It’s not complicated you just need to take action and start at step one.

Parents, for bringing me to this world, for raising me and giving me your unconditional love and encouragements to overcome adversities.

Wife, for your love, friendship, support, humor, wit, talent, inspiration and for being an amazing mother, Bubbe, wife and friend.

Daughter, Son and Son-in-Law, for teaching me patience and the many things I never knew, your love and devotion.

Grandkids, for being the most precious gift life could offer and for making me realize that our future is bright and in better hands.

Family, for the special growing moments together.

Teachers, for providing me the tools of how to learn and the enthusiasm to pursue my interests.

Brilliant minds throughout history, for your courage, intelligence and inspiration to make this a better world, to give me the opportunity to share in its continuing challenges for growth and improvement.

Advisers, for pushing me to reach the next level.

Spiritual Leaders, for helping me better understand the mysteries of life.

Clients, for your patronage and trust and for teaching me and helping me to learn more than I thought possible.

Team, for helping me create amazing innovations to the betterment of our clients and to constantly Raise the Barr®.

Friends, for your caring and sharing of special moments, for helping shape me into the person I’ve become and empowering me to live an extraordinary, fulfilling life.

Military Service, for teaching me the importance of hard work; physically and ethically and the eternal quest for peace.

Homeland, Israel and USA, for allowing me to live the life of my dreams.

Prepare list of topics and ideas to discuss. Prepare questions and format.

Contact colleagues.

Confirm date, time and place.

Gather all pertinent materials.

Meet colleagues at agreed upon date and time.

Be seated.

Pull out cellphone.

What???? Unfortunately, the incredible technology available on our smartphones today is oftentimes a hindrance to our work, our business and our family life. How many times have you been in a meeting where everyone is incessantly checking for e-mail updates, social media news or even Instagram! Though its capabilities to enhance our business is great, if not used wisely, we can appear disinterested and disconnected with our in-person meetings with colleagues and clients.

Don’t get caught looking down where your colleagues see only the top of your head. Keep your focus up so you can gather the brilliance of the masterminds, friends and business partners face to face without that tempting distraction.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/heads-up/feed/0Are You Strengthening Your Thought Leadership?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-strengthening-your-thought-leadership-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-strengthening-your-thought-leadership-2/#respondWed, 08 Nov 2017 23:05:57 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5996I just conducted a successful strategy session day in my office with one of my clients. One of the concepts we discussed was what we need to do to strengthen our thought leadership. Here are my thoughts and shared insights: … Continue reading →

I just conducted a successful strategy session day in my office with one of my clients. One of the concepts we discussed was what we need to do to strengthen our thought leadership. Here are my thoughts and shared insights:

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-strengthening-your-thought-leadership-2/feed/0Beware of What You Sharehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beware-of-what-you-share/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beware-of-what-you-share/#respondWed, 01 Nov 2017 19:51:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5986While checking out the profiles of individuals on various social media platforms, I’ve concluded that many of these people are either naïve or clueless about the impact of their digital identities and the lifestyle they reveal. I see silly photos … Continue reading →

While checking out the profiles of individuals on various social media platforms, I’ve concluded that many of these people are either naïve or clueless about the impact of their digital identities and the lifestyle they reveal.

I see silly photos of wild parties, drunken moments, images of injured body parts, pontification on subjects of which they are ignorant, boasting of the places they’ve visited, constantly quoting others, participating in absurd arguments, trolling the web, and so on.

If I am about to hire a new employee or the services of an entrepreneur, consultant, or a service firm, the first thing I check is their web site and their social media presence. What will it say about them? How credible are they? What do others say about them? What initiatives do they support? What kind of a life are they leading?

Your online presence reveals more than you may realize about yourself, your lifestyle, and your connections. Publish information sparingly and adopt the mindset of value and service.

Before you publish anything on the web, ask yourself whether your family, colleagues, friends, future employers or clients would be proud to see this or gain value from your post.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beware-of-what-you-share/feed/0Are You Creating Something You Never Imagined Possible?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-something-you-never-imagined-possible/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-something-you-never-imagined-possible/#respondWed, 25 Oct 2017 21:04:33 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5981Photo by: Chad Barr Many years ago, I had the opportunity to see the incredible glass exhibition of the famed glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly, at the King David citadel in Jerusalem. An awesome display, the likes of which I had … Continue reading →

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to see the incredible glass exhibition of the famed glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly, at the King David citadel in Jerusalem. An awesome display, the likes of which I had never witnessed before, left a lasting impression on me.

The amazing intricacy of each piece, some comprised of hundreds or thousands of twisted, shard like pieces of glass, when seen from a distance portray a completely different uniform masterpiece that provides a sense of completeness and even serenity for the viewer.

Today, I am enjoying the crisp fall weather at the botanical garden in the Bronx, New York, strolling through the gardens and catching the last days of the latest Chihuly installation and light exhibit before it closes this weekend.

I’ve come to the conclusion that talent, combined with years of honing your craft, is nothing short of miraculous!

As the visionary leader of my team, I’m committed to push them and myself beyond our comfort zone and continue to work to improve our already fine skills to a level far more creative and forward thinking than ever thought possible. The end result is, in its own way, an amazing creation.

Be inspired by the beauty around with the understanding that it’s the small steps, one piece at a time, that offer the greatest wow and impact at the end of the day.

Push yourself out of the box and go create something you never imagined possible.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-something-you-never-imagined-possible/feed/0Curiosity As Your Creative Force And Competitive Advantagehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/curiosity-as-your-creative-force-and-competitive-advantage-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/curiosity-as-your-creative-force-and-competitive-advantage-2/#respondWed, 18 Oct 2017 21:05:48 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5967Photo by: Chad Barr Probably like you, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t learn, observe, hear, create or am touched my something new. For me, it’s curiosity that fuels it all, which is the substance … Continue reading →

Probably like you, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t learn, observe, hear, create or am touched my something new. For me, it’s curiosity that fuels it all, which is the substance of life that keeps me going with passion and enthusiasm.

Here are just a few of the brilliant insights I observed, heard or ponder this week:

When I let go of who I am, I become what I might be

Lovely days don’t come to you, you should walk to them

Best and quickest way to accelerate your learning is to seek experts

If your work does not have passion it will forever remain lifeless

Identify and capture your stories and practice powerful and effective story telling

Recognize your unique point of view, then develop and articulate your trends prediction

Listen to the questions of other since there’s a good chance you will learn something new or gain the perspective of what new content to create

The best shortcut is the longest way around and the quickest way to get to your destination is to start earlier

Turn your passion and creation into an art

There are remarkable lessons to uncover by studying the geniuses of history

The main point, story or next discovery may not be the direction you are staring at

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/curiosity-as-your-creative-force-and-competitive-advantage-2/feed/0There IS Something New Under The Sunhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/there-is-something-new-under-the-sun/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/there-is-something-new-under-the-sun/#respondWed, 11 Oct 2017 20:03:34 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5962I’m certain that all of us have heard the phrase, “there’s nothing new under the sun.” And that may very well be true. From the vantage point of my office window, I can see the leaves changing color from green, … Continue reading →

I’m certain that all of us have heard the phrase, “there’s nothing new under the sun.” And that may very well be true. From the vantage point of my office window, I can see the leaves changing color from green, to red, then orange and yellow until they finally drop from the branches to the ground. My backyard becomes blanketed by a plush carpet of red and brown leaves in a matter of days leaving the naked branches awaiting the Midwest snows that will soon follow.

This cycle occurs every fall without fail but each year I see something new. A tree has grown taller, or another fallen into the woods behind the trees. A random clump of daffodils spring out unexpectedly.

Often, our business seems to continually follow the same cycles over and over again. We provide our services consistently and serve our clients with quality products that increase their growth and success. The familiarity breeds content. But as the flow of new clients come on board, it creates for each of us the opportunity to re-invent our products, refresh the content and re-inspire ourselves and those we serve.

Don’t become complacent in doing the same things time and time again, but, just as the seasons change, take time to refresh and renew what you’ve already established. There’s really nothing completely new under the sun, but we have the chance to bring a new prospective and take on what works and be inspired to create even more.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/there-is-something-new-under-the-sun/feed/0Creating a Bright and Promising Futurehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-a-bright-and-promising-future/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-a-bright-and-promising-future/#respondWed, 04 Oct 2017 21:04:22 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5958I have several hobbies and as many of you know, I am a photography enthusiast and I dedicate some of my time to study and refine this craft. One of the biggest compliments I have recently received from a friend … Continue reading →

I have several hobbies and as many of you know, I am a photography enthusiast and I dedicate some of my time to study and refine this craft. One of the biggest compliments I have recently received from a friend of mine was when he said: “you have arrived!”

Here are some of my learning points as I reflect on this fascinating hobby:

As I improve my knowledge, skills and artistry, I am constantly reminded of how much I have yet to learn.

This hobby enabled me to meet some fascinating and brilliant people with even more fascinating and brilliant stories.

Many adventures have been created by me or serendipitously for me as I search for the next great shot.

Photography has helped me increase and recognize the meaning and purpose of my life while bringing with it many moments of smiles and even some of tears.

The beauty I recognize around me is intense and profound. Yet the beauty I have yet to discover and recognize is mindboggling.

It has given me the artistic angle to gauge and improve our web presence creations.

It has made me realize that the possibilities for creating and innovating are endless.

It has become the source of many of our innovative ideas.

It has become my spiritual connection where I am given the opportunity to admire and be inspired by the amazing world and creation surrounding me.

This hobby has strengthened my relationships with others, intensified my recognition of beauty and has even made me recognize the softer side of me and especially that of others! The transformation has been nothing short of remarkable as I look forward with great excitement and anticipation into the bright and promising future.

What is one of your main hobbies and what is its impact on your life and business?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-a-bright-and-promising-future/feed/0The A through Z of Success Attributeshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-a-through-z-of-success-attributes/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-a-through-z-of-success-attributes/#respondWed, 27 Sep 2017 19:34:19 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5951I’m a fan of the use of acronyms as they are fun to create and help us better memorize key concepts. Here are a few I previously published: Cyber Strategy Success Get Noticed Have You Smacked Your Clients Lately? In … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-a-through-z-of-success-attributes/feed/0Shana Tova – Happy New Yearhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/shana-tova-happy-new-year/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/shana-tova-happy-new-year/#respondWed, 20 Sep 2017 18:54:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5942I wrote last week’s newsletter as an offshoot of my recent fear and frustration at having my Florida family, especially my little grandkids, huddling for hours in a closet under their stairs to protect them from Irma’s wrath. Though I … Continue reading →

I wrote last week’s newsletter as an offshoot of my recent fear and frustration at having my Florida family, especially my little grandkids, huddling for hours in a closet under their stairs to protect them from Irma’s wrath. Though I offered them safe passage to Cleveland, they followed the orders of their municipality to be prepared and stay put. I couldn’t control the situation at all. My fear for them suddenly reignited my struggle with our son’s addiction that I had, in a sense, been living with and kept on simmer.

I didn’t imagine the depth and outpouring of love and compassion from many of my wonderful colleagues, clients and friends, as they shared their comments, hopes and prayers in response.

As we are getting ready tonight to start celebrating the Jewish New Year, I want to thank all of you for reaching out and for your kind note.

With great gratitude, L’shana Tova and may this year bring with it health, happiness, prosperity and peace.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/shana-tova-happy-new-year/feed/0We Remain Powerless…https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remain-powerless/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remain-powerless/#respondWed, 13 Sep 2017 21:56:38 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5929Last week I devoted my article to the reality that we can’t always control a situation and need to have backup plans. As hard as we try and as prepared as we think we may be, the bottom line is … Continue reading →

Last week I devoted my article to the reality that we can’t always control a situation and need to have backup plans. As hard as we try and as prepared as we think we may be, the bottom line is that many situations and events are out of our hands and beyond our control.

We witnessed the devastation that hurricane Harvey unleashed on Texas and its residents only to have Mother Nature’s wrath rein down days later on Florida and run its way northward through the southern US. This past Monday, September 11, we were once again reminded of the cruelties and lack of power we have against evil 16 years after the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shalersville terror tragedies.

I must admit to you now, all of you knowing that I’m a rather private person, that our family too is powerless against our challenge, and that is our son’s addiction to heroin. As painful as it has been and continues to be for all of us who love him, the truth is that we are helpless against this cruel addiction. As hard as we’ve tried and as much as we do for him, love alone can’t solve or control this dilemma.

This week, as we witness the devastation and flooding and as we remember 9/11, my message is of hope that we as people and as a nation come together to improve our lives and the lives of others as we set an example for the world to follow. In addition to focusing on ways we can improve and control our business, we should also focus on helping to shape the world even when we realize that ultimately, we don’t control all of what happens.

Peter Marshall writes: “…when we long for life without…difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.”

When the winds blow strong against us, hold tight to your loved ones, when the rains destroy and dampen our spirits, when it seems that everything is crushing around us, believe that tomorrow can be a brighter day and we can together, make a difference in a world that is exciting, thriving yet ever changing and challenging.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/we-remain-powerless/feed/0When Plan B is Not Good Enough!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-plan-b-is-not-good-enough/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-plan-b-is-not-good-enough/#respondWed, 06 Sep 2017 20:54:38 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5919Last Friday night, shortly after midnight, I received an urgent text from one of our champion’s team members: “Houston, we have a huge problem!” he said. What was supposed to be routine dedicated server maintenance, the server, which hosts our … Continue reading →

Last Friday night, shortly after midnight, I received an urgent text from one of our champion’s team members: “Houston, we have a huge problem!” he said. What was supposed to be routine dedicated server maintenance, the server, which hosts our site and that of hundreds of our clients, revealed a major malfunction with one of our mirrored disk drives. And as if this was not enough, we also discovered some serious issues with the server hardware.

Our dedicated server is securely parked among thousands of other servers in a huge data center at one of our global partners. I called for a quick emergency meeting at 2:30AM Saturday morning with our team and our hosting partner. We realized, that due to the hardware error, the initial plan A to replace the failed drive, failed, and we had to resort to plan B. We quickly decided to rebuild a new server and restore our sites and data from our backup mirrored drive. A few hours later, plan B was progressing, the new server was rebuilt and working, and we were on our way to restoring everything from our mirrored drive.

While operating on just a few hours of sleep and having restored one third of our server, suddenly there came an urgent text from my team notifying me that the second backup drive had also failed! Someone out there must have been testing my patience and nerves.

I took a deep breath, consulted with my team and we decided to dive into yet a third plan; plan C to restore all that was missing from our nightly backup system. We encountered some hiccups and stressful moments along the way but finally, on Monday, everything was pretty much up and running with few if any glitches.

My top lessons learned:

We are rarely in complete control of everything.

Surrounding myself with an amazing team and partners has saved me on many occasions and has been the key to our continued growth and success.

Even plan B is not always good enough. (Always back it up with a plan C)!

Carefully review your personal and business backup systems and procedures and make sure you are prepared with Plan A, B and even C. It will save you!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/when-plan-b-is-not-good-enough/feed/0Do You Have the Courage to Do What it Takes to Be Successful? – Reduxhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-the-courage-to-do-what-it-takes-to-be-successful-redux/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-the-courage-to-do-what-it-takes-to-be-successful-redux/#respondWed, 30 Aug 2017 20:59:55 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5915Have you ever dieted, lost weight steadily for several months, only to hit that infamous plateau? It’s right at the point where you’re feeling so much better and on top of the world. You’ve figured it all out and then … Continue reading →

Have you ever dieted, lost weight steadily for several months, only to hit that infamous plateau? It’s right at the point where you’re feeling so much better and on top of the world. You’ve figured it all out and then it hits.

This can be compared to our business as we move full steam ahead with innovations, ideas, new clients and successes only to hit that hurdle which in turn changes our thinking and we become blocked.

We begin to ask ourselves is this the right business for me? Am I able to get the wheels turning again? Will I find that ability, talent and passion once again that when combined is like the greatest euphoria and joy in life?

Take a break. A day, a week or more to let your brain and body rest. Clear your head of the negativity, chatter and start fresh.

Look inward and assess what your thoughts are saying and if that mental block is related to or found elsewhere in your life as well.

Rethink your passion. What do you truly love to do? What work or part of your business venture makes you the happiest?

Read. An inspiring biography or historical novels that will help you see the possibilities in you.

Commune with nature. Walk outside and breath fresh air. Sunny skies or grey ones remind me that there’s so much in the world that is bigger than my troubles and me.

Connect with a personal or professional advisor, someone you can trust. Ask for help and get advice to get you back on the track to success.

Trust in your gut feeling. We can never know the right or wrong decision until we make it and see the result of our decision. In the end, you don’t want to regret not having pursued your real dreams. You owe it to yourself, your family and the world to pursue these dreams. Use your courage, passion, purpose and conviction to move out of the rut and take yourself and your business to a new level you never imagined possible.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-the-courage-to-do-what-it-takes-to-be-successful-redux/feed/0Make Every Day Counthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-every-day-count/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-every-day-count/#respondWed, 23 Aug 2017 20:33:28 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5907Twice a month, on Friday evening, I accompany my wife, Cantor Laurel Barr, on guitar while she leads worship services for the senior citizens at a local assisted living apartment complex. Here, we sing and pray with grandparents and great-grandparents, … Continue reading →

Twice a month, on Friday evening, I accompany my wife, Cantor Laurel Barr, on guitar while she leads worship services for the senior citizens at a local assisted living apartment complex. Here, we sing and pray with grandparents and great-grandparents, many with canes, walkers and wheelchairs, some tethered to oxygen tanks or nursing assistants, and bring joy and light into their lives for 45 precious minutes.

With reverence and with humor, these few moments shared with these special seniors serve to teach me many lessons that I can apply to my life and work; lessons learned through their joys, sadness’s and challenges. They are all too eager to volunteer when asked about a moral question arising from a biblical passage or to remember how a life event, good or bad, has impacted how they view and live their golden years. I’m always amazed at their optimism and want to share what I have gleaned from their wisdom with you.

Physical aches and pains are just reminders that we are still alive and that our lives still have meaning. In my business life too, painful challenges arise that say, “here I grow again!”

Memories, even sad ones, can still bring comfort. When I think of those who are no longer in my life that had a great impact on me, the memories evoke a greater passion inside that help me accomplish my business goals with clients from a perspective of true compassion, purpose and caring.

Sitting back and letting fatigue take over isn’t a bad thing! Everyone needs a good rest and time to reenergize after an intense day at work or a lifetime of doing.

Worrying, even for a minute, takes away 60 seconds of gratitude and joy. I’ve learned that trying to control every aspect of business is impossible and it’s more beneficial to stop worrying over every detail and little thing. Somehow, perhaps magically, everything works out.

Smile. The music and prayer brings out the best and most joyous feelings in all of them. A smile, while speaking on the phone or Skype, lifts my conversations to a more positive and higher level.

Be grateful. These folks appreciate everything around them; the kindness of the staff, a warm sweater, (even in the heat), the delicious food that someone else prepared after a life of having to cook for themselves and the privilege of joining together in song with the community there. Though most are widows or widowers, they find the joy of friendship more valuable now than the money earned during their lives and careers. I strive to keep my eye on the prize which doesn’t mean only financial goals but good health, meaning, contribution, impact, friends, family, clients, and the beauty of nature that I can capture through my photography.

I can count my days, work to improve my business and the success of my clients, but must also make my days count. When I’m in my golden years, I want to look back with the spark of joy that I see in their eyes.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-every-day-count/feed/0Whose Business are You Reinventing?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-business-are-you-reinventing/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-business-are-you-reinventing/#respondWed, 16 Aug 2017 23:30:56 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5897I believe it was Peter Drucker who said that the best way to predict the future is to create it. I believe that in order to create a strong future we must continually reinvent ourselves. Doing so is as close … Continue reading →

I believe it was Peter Drucker who said that the best way to predict the future is to create it. I believe that in order to create a strong future we must continually reinvent ourselves. Doing so is as close to a guarantee as possible not only to ensure our future survival but to actually enable us to thrive and impact others.

Throughout my career I have gone through several reinventions both personally and with my business. Years ago, I reached the conclusion that the quickest and most responsible way of reinventing ourselves is by helping our clients reinvent themselves. Obviously, the more successful they become, the more successful we become.

Here are some ways to reinvent your clients:

Figure out what’s in their best interest

Bring business and revenues to them

Implement your innovative ideas that impact their success

Teach them new skills

Create new relationships and connect them with powerful people and markets

Help them launch new offerings and bring them to market quickly

Challenge their basic premises

Here are some ways to reinvent your own business:

Identify and describe what an amazing future looks like and why it is important

Pinpoint the new markets, products, services and clients to create as well as abandoning the previously established ones that no longer provide value

Locate and surround yourself with geniuses that you respect

Create five key moves to get you there

Generate the action plan and accountability and get started with the first step now

Share what you have done to reinvent yourself and your clients.

Identify one client this week, and formulate one profound idea that has the potential to transform their success. Contact them and schedule the time to discuss how they can reinvent themselves.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whose-business-are-you-reinventing/feed/0Are you a better version of you?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-a-better-version-of-you/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-a-better-version-of-you/#respondWed, 09 Aug 2017 20:33:05 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5848Who have you surrounded yourself with that makes you a better version of you? In the past several years I’ve been fortunate to meet and associate with some amazing people. I would like to dedicate today’s newsletter to Jeff Walker, … Continue reading →

Who have you surrounded yourself with that makes you a better version of you?

In the past several years I’ve been fortunate to meet and associate with some amazing people. I would like to dedicate today’s newsletter to Jeff Walker, the inventor and the brains behind the product launch formula, which focuses on the step-by-step process to launching products.

I’ve had the opportunities to meet Jeff several times and participate in several of his exhilarating events. He is a remarkable individual and here are some of the lessons, insights and reflections I would like to share with you:

Honor the people who bought your products and services and the ones who support you and help you grow.

Commit yourself to pushing the envelope and to creating the best content, videos, experiences, team, clients and life.

Develop your plan to 10X your business.

Review and rejoice in the amazing achievements of your life.

Raise the Barr® of your own game and that of your teams and clients.

Upgrade your health and remove the toxicity from your life, which includes certain individuals.

Create a community around you and your brand.

Percolate when you need to. In other words, treat procrastination as fine-tuning and thinking time.

Give attributes to others, which helps create more credibility.

Identify the first most powerful sentence of your content since it’s the hook that grabs their attention that foreshadows what’s coming next.

Share your own struggles, which helps people relate better and create stronger connections.

Pinpoint your special sauce, that special power. Promote it and focus your energy on it.

Remove all you can off your calendar and keep it as empty as possible.

Figure out the reasons someone won’t buy your business and that’s your weakness.

Don’t ever be dependent for survival on one promotion or one client.

Develop your goals, write them down, and post them on your office wall and share with key and trusted individuals.

Find ways to constantly reenergize and rejuvenate yourself.

Focus on being the best version of you and not an imitation of others.

I love Issac Newton’s quote: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I would like to add to it: “I am constantly becoming a better version of myself for the amazing people I am surrounded by!”

Thank YOU for reading this. Thank you, Jeff, and the many that influenced my life and business.

Identify someone who has contributed to your success and give them a private or a public shout-out. It should make you feel great and them exhilarated!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-a-better-version-of-you/feed/0Grab ’em by the …https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/grab-em-by-the/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/grab-em-by-the/#respondWed, 02 Aug 2017 20:20:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5807How quickly does your content grab their attention or have you lost them in the first few moments? If you are still reading this, that’s a good sign. One of the questions I am often asked is how long should … Continue reading →

How quickly does your content grab their attention or have you lost them in the first few moments? If you are still reading this, that’s a good sign.

One of the questions I am often asked is how long should my content be? My answer is: “as pithy as possible and perhaps even a few moments shorter!”

Life and technology have gotten exponentially faster and have accelerated their sophistication and our ability to retrieve information almost at the speed of light. Watson, the supercomputer, won the famous Jeopardy show against humans a few years ago. Watson is now studying various industries including medical literature. Through its artificial intelligence it is able to aid research and the medical community with an amazing level of accuracy, speed and foresight.

Some claim that longer content generates more effective user’s engagement. I think this is nonsense. People want knowledge and wisdom and the ability to acquire it as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

This most likely won’t make me popular but there is so much junk on the web and various social media platforms. People pontificate and dump their stream of consciousness as an attempt to impress others, themselves or think that they provide value. I “force” myself to sit through some of these and am astonished who in the world, other than me, is subjecting themselves to such pain? I profess that I don’t last long on these.

If your content seems to be too long, I’ll bet that it is probably a bit boring as well.

In the spirit of brevity, I’m signing off.

Whatever masterpiece you are creating, see if you can reduce its length by 50% while keeping it just as effective, thoughtful and valuable. Your audience will thank you and so will I.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/grab-em-by-the/feed/0Get The Weight Off Your Shouldershttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-the-weight-off-your-shoulders-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-the-weight-off-your-shoulders-2/#respondWed, 26 Jul 2017 20:31:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5767Are there things that bring your down? Are you surrounded by pessimism? There’s a not so nice way some people refer to one’s spouse calling them the old “ball and chain.” Even though it’s meant to be funny, it connotes … Continue reading →

Are there things that bring your down? Are you surrounded by pessimism?

There’s a not so nice way some people refer to one’s spouse calling them the old “ball and chain.” Even though it’s meant to be funny, it connotes that which holds us back or pulls us down.

We all have occasional heavy anchors that attempt to pull us under the current as we try to keep our businesses and lives riding the high tide. What are some of those factors that drag us down and keep us from achieving even better and higher successes?

Friends: Those who are just plain negative complainers who always seem to make their bad day rub off on you.

Colleagues and team members: One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. Unfortunately, that apple’s bad attitude can infect and seep into the morale of the company.

News: Here’s a good one… We all know those who are obsessed with watching and reporting the day’s latest news. Usually it’s the tragedies or horrific world events that captivate them and only serve to make those around them anxious and upset with their sharing of the news.

Prospects: The live wire that has you all lit up with the possibility of signing up a new client only to repeatedly ignore your calls and contacts.

Unappreciative clients: No matter how much we feel we are giving, doing and helping, they never seem to show any gratitude but nit-pic every little thing.

Family members: Through no fault of our own, we are stuck with the good and the bad in our families.

Technology: The newest and latest that is out there and we fumble around to grasp and incorporate it creating negative feelings and frustration.

Business: The undesired parts of your business that drain your energy and suck the passion out of you.

It may be time to reinvent various aspects of your life and business and get that excess weight off your shoulders.

There will always be negative people in this world. But in the words of the Olympic gymnast, Mary Lou Retton, who won the gold medal after landing her jump and breaking her foot said: “Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.”

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/get-the-weight-off-your-shoulders-2/feed/0Don’t Fall For It!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dont-fall-for-it/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dont-fall-for-it/#respondWed, 19 Jul 2017 17:58:39 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5748Last weekend, my wife and I traveled to hear The Cleveland Orchestra perform at Blossom Music Center, which is one of the most beautiful summer concert venues in Northeast Ohio. Being somewhat in a hurry, I quickly launched my browser … Continue reading →

Last weekend, my wife and I traveled to hear The Cleveland Orchestra perform at Blossom Music Center, which is one of the most beautiful summer concert venues in Northeast Ohio. Being somewhat in a hurry, I quickly launched my browser and searched for available online tickets. I clicked on the first link that came up and to my surprise it showed only a few tickets available at the starting price of $180 per ticket. This made no sense since tickets to such events are usually quite reasonable.

Further investigation of my search results found the actual and “genuine” site of the Cleveland Orchestra where tickets prices started at $24 per ticket!

The increase of fraudulent activities has been on the rise and unfortunately the web has made it easier than ever. Here are some of the creative ways these criminals operate:

Internet sales which direct you to a site that looks credible but never ships the goods you have purchased.

Charities who take advantage of your generosity by pretending to be committed to a worthy cause.

Work from home scams that promise you great income for a small initial investment.

Phone solicitations from Microsoft calling to fix your Windows operating system or from the Internal Revenue Service threatening instant action unless you pay them immediately.

Phishing emails from your financial institutions, or email provider or other online places you belong to that suggest there is an issue with your login credentials.

Our world is an amazing place but unfortunately there are quite a few malicious minds out there trying to take advantage of you. Beware and when in doubt ask a professional.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/dont-fall-for-it/feed/0Testimonials: Their Pat on Your Backhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/testimonials-their-pat-on-your-back/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/testimonials-their-pat-on-your-back/#respondWed, 12 Jul 2017 22:12:19 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5743I received a request this week from one of my clients asking me the best way to get a powerful video testimonial from a client. I’ve been saying for years that if you tell others how great you are, it … Continue reading →

I received a request this week from one of my clients asking me the best way to get a powerful video testimonial from a client.

I’ve been saying for years that if you tell others how great you are, it can come across as boasting or a bunch of fluff. Yet if your clients tell others how great you are, that’s an indisputable fact! It is the social proof needed to increase your credibility and reputation. I am a huge fan and an advocate in the power of testimonials and I encourage you to be the same.

I like to separate between solicited and unsolicited testimonials. Solicited testimonials are when you approach your clients and request they provide you with a testimonial. The best time to do this is when they share with you a recent success they’ve achieved that is associated with your help and involvement. This is also the time they will be most appreciative and willing to do it. The second best time is to approach your client when you hear of their success.

One way to approach your client to get the testimonial is to say: “I love hearing when my clients achieve great successes. It would mean the world to me if you’d be willing to provide me with a testimonial that accurately captures this success.”

An unsolicited testimonial is when your client surprises you and provides you with it without your asking. This represents the highest level of trust and compliment in you!

I favor written testimonials and recommend they appear on the pages that they reflect such as consulting testimonials on the consulting page, product testimonials on the particular product they apply to. I also recommend placing them on what I refer to as the main testimonial repository page that includes all of them. This page should scroll down forever and indicate the massive amount of confidence and value of working with you.

A while back one of my clients shared her amazing success and thanked me for my contribution in helping her reach this outcome. I was delighted to hear it and asked her for a testimonial. She readily agreed but apparently was busy doing it. After a few reminders over the next few weeks via email and still no testimonial, I decided to try LinkedIn. I sent her a request through LinkedIn and to my surprise, she immediately posted an amazing testimonial. This made me realize the added bonus of using LinkedIn. Not only is the testimonial now connected to my profile on LinkedIn but can then be used on my site as well.

Although written testimonials are extremely powerful and effective, client video testimonials are also invaluable. Whether solicited or unsolicited, I ask the client if they would be willing to provide the testimonial on video. The power of video is that it can then be uploaded to YouTube or other similar video platforms, embedded on your site on the proper page as well as the video testimonial page. This video can then be transcribed and leveraged as a written testimonial and even extracted as an audio testimonial.

Here are some tips about getting the most out of your video testimonial:

Coach them and quickly rehearse with them what they are going to say.

Ask them to focus on the outcome and results you have helped create for them. If needed, remind them of what you believe these results were.

Avoid the focus on tasks or personality attributes. For example, rather than the client saying how impressed they were with your presentation, it is much more powerful for them to share the one key insight they gained from your presentation that they can’t wait to implement and that they know this will help transform their success. Instead of them saying how helpful and devoted you were to the project, it is profoundly more convincing for them to say for example, that with your help their business and profits grew 32% in less than a year or that they entered new global markets in 6 countries.

Suggest they keep it short and concise.

The best structural format is to:

Introduce themselves by name, title and organization.

State the key challenge they were facing when they contacted you and how you helped resolve it.

Identify why they decided to work with you.

Articulate the profound outcome they’ve achieved by working with you.

NOTE: The most important and powerful part of the testimonial is the profound outcome. If needed, have them skip everything else but that.

Consider creating a mini documentary.

I tell them that I will record it three times so our team can pull out the best segments. This puts their mind at ease and prevents you from having to say “let’s try this again” after the first take.

Keep the camera at their eye level. Use a tripod and also a good external microphone when possible and shoot in high definition.

Make sure you are relaxed and smiling to keep them relaxed as well.

Of course, don’t forget to thank them when done.

Testimonials often lead to referrals and with them more business and recognition for you and more success for them.

Connect with a few of your clients, have a conversation, identify recent success and request a testimonial.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/testimonials-their-pat-on-your-back/feed/07 Business Myth Bustershttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/7-business-myth-busters/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/7-business-myth-busters/#respondWed, 05 Jul 2017 22:40:09 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5735In recent conversations with some of my clients and prospective clients, they shared with me that their business has flat-lined. Some have even said that their business has taken a free fall dive. This is both disheartening and concerning and … Continue reading →

In recent conversations with some of my clients and prospective clients, they shared with me that their business has flat-lined. Some have even said that their business has taken a free fall dive.

This is both disheartening and concerning and made me probe deeper as to the reasons for such a disastrous situation. My conclusion is that it boils down to 7 myths that may have contributed to the situation and are most likely responsible for its continuation.

Myth #1: Prior success is sure to bring the next success – It does demonstrate that you were successful in the past but also suggests that it now requires new thinking and new mindset to generate new success. What new thinking and behaviors have you introduced to your life?

Myth #2: I can do it alone – There is a reason why the best in the world surround themselves with outstanding experts to help them elevate their game. Finding the right support and especially when times are tougher it is crucial to get you out of this quandary. Who have you surrounded yourself with to get you back on track?

Myth #3: I have the needed energy – As I have personally learned, to keep my game at its best, requires great energy. That means nutrition, exercise, relaxation and proper physical and mental stimulation. What are you doing to keep your energy at its optimum condition?

Myth #4: I am still passionate about my business – Are you really? This is a hard one to swallow but unless you are passionate about what you do and the value you provide, success will be hard and possibly impossible to achieve. What are you passionate about that provides great value to your clients?

Myth #5: It’s about working smarter – Although there is truth to this, I would challenge you that success requires work. Of course, you want to do it smartly but you have to put in the work to get the results. The good news is that when you are passionate about what it is that you do, it does not feel like work but your life’s purpose! Are you doing what it takes to be successful?

Myth # 6: It’s the economy – Do not resort to finding faults with external things. It’s your marketing initiatives that are directly linked to your results. Are you blaming others for your situation and what is your marketing roadmap?

Myth #7: I have the right mindset – You would probably agree with me that the right mindset would have generated different and consistent results. I’d urge you to change your mindset and fierce commitment to execution. What is your current mindset and where does it need to be?

Let me conclude by asking you these three questions:

What are your big dreams, goals and desires to achieve?

Do you have the courage to do what it takes to be successful?

How do you hold yourself accountable daily to navigate towards your success?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/7-business-myth-busters/feed/011 Steps to Bring Your Hobby Into Focushttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-steps-to-bring-your-hobby-into-focus/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-steps-to-bring-your-hobby-into-focus/#respondWed, 28 Jun 2017 20:59:26 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5728For as long as I can remember, I always had a hobby or two that kept me curious, excited, enthusiastic and fulfilled. I remember the fish breeding aquariums in my parents’ home, building amplifiers and various sound systems for playing … Continue reading →

For as long as I can remember, I always had a hobby or two that kept me curious, excited, enthusiastic and fulfilled. I remember the fish breeding aquariums in my parents’ home, building amplifiers and various sound systems for playing my electric guitar in my various bands, and I even remember a period of experimenting with macramé hanging plant holders. But let’s keep the latter a secret.

For me, the biggest reward is the realization that some of my hobbies are, or have been, my profession as well. I was (and probably still am) a professional musician and music is one of my favorite hobbies. Computers, technology and the web are my profession and are also some of my other favorite hobbies. That’s probably where the lines of demarcation between work and pleasure become foggy.

For the past few years I’ve taken up and learned a new, thrilling hobby and past time; photography! I’ve been devoting time, money and energy to studying it, investing in its gear, experimenting and honing my skills. It has been great fun doing it, at times frustrating, but overall extremely rewarding seeing the progress and results.

Yet, the unanticipated value is what blew me away. Below are 11 reasons why my photography hobby has changed my life and why I recommend you start a new hobby or nurture an existing one:

Creating new connections and friendships with fascinating people

Discovering a world, I never knew existed

Meeting new talented professionals — “artists”

Refining my creative outlook and appreciation of beauty

Challenging myself and my team to consistently Raise the Barr®

Stimulating new ideas and innovations for the creation of new service and product offerings

Creating new adventures

Uncovering new interests and passions

Appreciating the special moments of life

Strengthening relationships and their meanings with loved ones

Discovering spiritual connections

Friends, family, clients and colleagues have encouraged me to make my photos available and start sharing them with the world. I took this to heart, setup the platform to organize and post these for easy access, and turned this into my weekend project.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-steps-to-bring-your-hobby-into-focus/feed/0Write On!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/write-on/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/write-on/#respondThu, 22 Jun 2017 01:15:02 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5725Many of my clients are well known authors of insightful books on a variety of topics. Some have published one book while others have published many. Most have recognized the benefits of being a published author so they may share … Continue reading →

Many of my clients are well known authors of insightful books on a variety of topics. Some have published one book while others have published many. Most have recognized the benefits of being a published author so they may share their wisdom with the world, gain credibility and strengthen their global thought leadership.

Many struggle with figuring out how to get published quickly, painlessly and successfully. No matter where you are on this spectrum, if you desire to further increase your body of work, let me suggest ways to effectively do this.

Your newsletters are your absolute goldmine and are one of the vehicles to quickly get your book out there. For years, I’ve been advising and pushing my clients to consistently publish their newsletters. If you have not yet started, please do so because in a few month’s time, the content of these newsletters can easily become the manuscript for your new book.

Ever doubted the power of newsletters and their transformational value? Here is a testimonial from one of my clients, Kris Putnam-Walkerly, who is a global philanthropy expert, and who has achieved measurable results with her newsletters. Here is what she said:

“Since launching my website and e-newsletter with the Chad Barr Group a year ago, I have had 6 new consulting engagements totaling over $250,000 in new revenue. I directly link this to people reading my newsletter — individuals who I had known for over a decade but had never done business with, and past clients who were reminded of me and the value I provide.”

These newsletters became Kris’s successful book Confident Giving, which was also named one of the “10 best corporate social responsibility books” and the “2017 international book award finalist for social change.” How is that for the transformational power of newsletters? I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how proud I am of Kris’s success and for my team and I to have been the influencers, strategists, designers, creators and marketers of these initiatives.

Finally, why not repurpose your podcasts, videos, infographics and other published work into your next book? The days of having to order thousands of copies are long gone. Now you can leverage powerful platforms such as: Amazon (through their CreateSpace printing arm), Kindle and iBooks to get your book out in print or digital format in no time. This will enable you to quickly become an author or add the next book to your already published body of work.

Want to learn more or get going? Call or email. I will be honored to help you publish your next book.

Before you sit down to write your next book from scratch, pull out the amazing content you have created over the years and repurpose it into your new book. You will save a tremendous amount of time and frustration and your words will be transformed quickly and easily into a viable and sellable product. Good luck!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/write-on/feed/0The Best Writing Advicehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-best-writing-advice/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-best-writing-advice/#respondWed, 14 Jun 2017 22:42:46 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5715Content creation is one of the key essentials to increasing our intellectual property (IP) and credibility while strengthening our thought leadership and global reach. Yet many are stuck in writer’s block mindset and procrastination. During a conversation I had this … Continue reading →

Content creation is one of the key essentials to increasing our intellectual property (IP) and credibility while strengthening our thought leadership and global reach. Yet many are stuck in writer’s block mindset and procrastination. During a conversation I had this morning with a client, she shared her quest for advice as to how to best write amazing content.

My Top 10 insights:

Habit – The more you practice your writing habit muscle, the stronger, more flexible and easier it gets. It enables you to overcome procrastination and resistance.

Butt in chair – The physical action of sitting down, eliminating distractions and starting to write is the necessary component to get the momentum going.

Use deadlines – There is no better tool than our calendar to create the needed deadline and digital accountability to hold you accountable and on track.

Best source of ideas – Ask your clients for their challenges and then write and develop great content related to them and provide them your insights to cover these challenges.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-best-writing-advice/feed/0The Freedom to Choosehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-freedom-to-choose/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-freedom-to-choose/#respondWed, 07 Jun 2017 16:46:51 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5706I am in my studio this week creating my amazing new product called The Digital Empire Academy. I am very excited about it and I know you will be as well. As I was thinking about the main outcome my … Continue reading →

I am in my studio this week creating my amazing new product called The Digital Empire Academy. I am very excited about it and I know you will be as well. As I was thinking about the main outcome my clients would potentially receive from this product, the one that kept coming up was the freedom to choose.

I am grateful for living in a place that provides me freedom to choose. I was contemplating the various areas that impact our freedom and here are some that come to mind.

Freedom is our ability to:

Pick the location from which you want to work

Decide when to work

Determine what we want to work on

Choose with whom we want to work

Control our financial condition

Influence our destiny

Choose our spouse or partner

Attend our place of worship

Navigate the life we want

Impact the lives of others

Pursue our passions

Create our legacy

Identify the value you provide others that enables them to gain the ultimate freedom to reach their dreams.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-freedom-to-choose/feed/0The Future of Experiential Marketing: Reduxhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-future-of-experiential-marketing-redux/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-future-of-experiential-marketing-redux/#respondWed, 31 May 2017 20:18:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5702I’ve said it before, and I’ll said it again: We’re on the cusp of being able to create truly unbelievable experiences for our customers through next-generation imagery, videos, 3-D, and virtual reality—or, what I like to call experiential marketing. And … Continue reading →

I’ve said it before, and I’ll said it again: We’re on the cusp of being able to create truly unbelievable experiences for our customers through next-generation imagery, videos, 3-D, and virtual reality—or, what I like to call experiential marketing. And it’s not as far away as you might think.

This week, I want to encourage you to think about all the ways in which experiential marketing will change the world as we know it. As consultants and entrepreneurs, it’s easy to think that fancy tools such as 3-D and virtual reality might not apply to us. But in truth, they have the power to totally transform the way we interact with our prospects and clients, for the better.

For example, imagine you own a landscape business. What if your website could take visitors through the “before” and “after” of your clients’ lawns? What if their screens could come alive with vibrant peonies, lush trees, and perfectly manicured garden pathways—allowing them to literally “walk through” the actual results you created for former customers and potential results you can create for them?

Of course, this would be an incredible way to convince people to buy your landscape services. But more than that, it allows people to actually experience their dream results, without having to go anywhere or do anything. And that’s a remarkable new frontier for marketing as a whole.

Along the same lines, your website could include cutting-edge technology that enables visitors to upload blueprints of their existing garden space. Then, your software could conjure up a projection of what their garden will look like if they hire you—down to the very last tulip. This type of personalized projection of real-life results will be invaluable to people once it’s available, in every industry imaginable.

The concepts we’re exploring here apply to your business, no matter what you sell.

Consider that future marketing technologies could allow customers to virtually “walk around” any store. Amazon is the best example here. Right now, you can scroll through millions of items online to virtually browse what Amazon has to offer. But imagine if, instead, you could actually browse the shelves in the Amazon warehouse. Perhaps you could virtually enter the book department, open the books one by one, look through them, and even turn them over to get a virtual “feel” for each one. This type of hands-on virtual shopping isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem!

For us as consultants, this type of marketing will be transformative. When helping businesses shape their strategy , we’ll be able to show them what it will look like to work with us. We can virtually present our customers with a framework of what their future could look like—at the touch of a button.

I often ask my clients, “How would you paint success for you and your business?” When experiential marketing comes along, the answers to this question will be more vibrant, realistic, and tangible than ever before.

The future of experiential marketing is not just over the horizon, but actually here. Are you thinking about all the ways in which virtual reality, 3-D, and cutting-edge video and imagery technology will transform your world?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-future-of-experiential-marketing-redux/feed/0Debunking Web Presence Mythshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/debunking-web-presence-myths/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/debunking-web-presence-myths/#respondWed, 24 May 2017 19:53:09 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5699In my work with clients, research and my observation, I’ve noticed a lot of bad advice and rhetoric leading to misinformation and the creation of cyber myths. Let me shatter them once and for all: Myth: The web is a … Continue reading →

In my work with clients, research and my observation, I’ve noticed a lot of bad advice and rhetoric leading to misinformation and the creation of cyber myths. Let me shatter them once and for all:

Myth: The web is a safe place.Debunk: Cyber attacks have been on the increase and with it a growing community of evil doers out to cheat you out of your wealth or steal your identity. Partner with a trusted expert, who provides you with accurate and timely advice, become knowledgeable and improve your common sense.

Myth: The web is a scary and unsafe place.Debunk: Although as noted above there are a lot of things to be concerned about when using the web, learning to do it safely creates an amazing, rewarding and secured experience for growth, enjoyment, learning, and maximizing life and business.

Myth: If you build it they will come.Debunk: Just creating your web presence and hoping they show up would most likely end in great disappointment for you. The key is effective selection of the right marketing initiatives.

Myth: Internet marketers are charlatans promoting only advice about marketing on the internet.Debunk: Actually, I have met many of them and have discovered amazing genuine experts with great hearts that have helped others create remarkable successes and are committed to providing value and impacting the world. Don’t fall prey to this myth and learn to become a great internet marketer yourself or partner with one.

Myth: The creation of effective and powerful content is quite hard.Debunk: I’ve written on this topic for years and to help you eradicate this myth I suggest, as I wrote in my article last week, ask your clients for their top challenges and go create amazing content around these topics.

Myth: Your site is not a sales tool but a credibility tool.Debunk: Unless you create much credibility there won’t be any sales. Your web presence is not only your 24×7 virtual representation but the platform to create conversations, social proof, and irresistible attraction to actually become your ultimate sales tool.

Myth: Devoting time and improving your web presence is a waste of time.Debunk: Let’s be honest, we all know that improving your web presence creates success, increases credibility and reputation and boosts your income.

Myth: Only a very few become known and successful thought leaders.Debunk: Columbus’ discovery of America started with his commitment to begin while progressing one nautical mile at a time and adjusting to unexpected challenges. Thought leadership is achieved one article, book, podcast and video at a time. Why not get started or raise the bar today?

What are some of the myths you or your clients may be holding on to? Share with us and let’s bust them all.

In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity, said Einstein. I would claim that myths or false beliefs are simply opportunities to recalibrate, challenge ourselves, and others, and grow.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/debunking-web-presence-myths/feed/0A Treasure Chest of Insightshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-treasure-chest-of-insights/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-treasure-chest-of-insights/#respondWed, 17 May 2017 22:59:46 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5695After coaching one of my clients on the creation of powerful content this morning she concluded by saying that she needs to think about what content to create next. I asked her to share with me some of the items … Continue reading →

After coaching one of my clients on the creation of powerful content this morning she concluded by saying that she needs to think about what content to create next. I asked her to share with me some of the items on her calendar for this week. “Extremely busy few days” she said. I asked her, of each appointment on her calendar that week, what is their most critical challenge. Without skipping a beat, she quickly shared a list of their challenges until I had to stop her. A big smile appeared on her face as she realized the answer was always at her fingertips. Each challenge was the basis for creating her next piece of content!

Here are seven questions and my recommendations from the dozens I received this week from my clients:

Where do I get ideas for my next piece of content? Although this article provides you with such ideas, Where Do Ideas Come From? is an infographic I created exactly for this reason.

How do I greatly improve the proposal I am submitting to a prospective client? The weakest part I often find in most proposals is the inability to powerfully articulate the value section and the potential transformation for the client.

What is the structure of effective web copy?

A few opening paragraphs, bullet points and concluding paragraphs.

Incorporate bullet points where possible.

Convert some of the bullet points into diagnostic visuals.

Add several hypertext links on each page leading to other interesting resources (articles, podcasts, videos, whitepapers)

A strong call to action on each page

Additional resources such as downloadable whitepapers on key pages

How do I know it’s time to abandon my old business model and service offerings and launch the new one? Ask yourself whether you would be passionate and enthusiastic doing what you are currently doing for the rest of your life. If the answer is no, it’s time to change. Then ask yourself the same question about your new business model.

How do I make sure my new offerings will be powerful, effective and in demand? Ask for feedback from clients, prospective clients and trusted colleagues and advisors.

What are the best ideas to promote my site? How to Promote Your Web Site is an article I created several years ago to which I continue adding insights.

What to do when a prospect evaluates my competitors? Focus on the remarkable and transformational value you provide.

What are some of the questions you were asked this week? Would love to hear from you or better yet, create a piece of content around it and then share with your audience and of course, me.

The questions that come up in your ongoing communication can easily become your treasure chest of insights to help transform your business and that of your clients.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-treasure-chest-of-insights/feed/0Aren’t They Returning Your Calls?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/arent-they-returning-your-calls/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/arent-they-returning-your-calls/#respondWed, 10 May 2017 21:18:10 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5680During a lunch meeting I just had with my client, he shared with me his great frustration with several prospective clients not returning his calls or emails. What may have seemed to be a “hot” prospect at the time, has … Continue reading →

During a lunch meeting I just had with my client, he shared with me his great frustration with several prospective clients not returning his calls or emails. What may have seemed to be a “hot” prospect at the time, has gone beyond cold and probably into frozen territory.

So what may have caused a prospective client to go silent? I believe there are seven key reasons to consider:

They are no longer interested in your offerings or have decided on other and more important priorities.

They have found a perceived superior or more economical option.

They are overwhelmed and need you more than they realize but are paralyzed to make the decision.

They have a condition such as no money to fund your proposal.

They just wanted to educate themselves and used your expertise.

They have not recognized the great value your solution provides or are not convinced that you can deliver on it.

You are not talking to the real decision maker.

My client’s intent was to let these prospective clients know how disappointed he was with their rude behavior and lecture them as to what “proper” business and ethical conduct should have been.

Although none of us are immune from running into such individuals and situations, I don’t believe we should confront such rude behavior and lack of courtesy from prospective clients by lecturing them or by being rude. The only solution I see combines patience, compassion and providing consistent value.

So how do you minimize your frustration in such situations?

Secure many more potential opportunities so you are not dependent on just a few.

Ask them the tough questions.

Make sure they demonstrate enthusiasm.

Be certain they recognize the transformational value of your offerings.

Several years ago, I received a call from a prospective client saying: “Thank you for staying in touch with us and providing us with consistent value. We know it’s been almost seven years since we started talking. We are now ready to move forward!”

Don’t let their silence and your frustration turn a potential and “percolating” prospect into a foe. With consistency, water can carve stone, and with added value you can carve your future relationships.

Although poor prospects may become bad clients, if you treat them with kindness and provide meaningful value you most likely will see the relationship soar.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/arent-they-returning-your-calls/feed/0What Are Your Rituals?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-your-rituals/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-your-rituals/#respondWed, 03 May 2017 22:51:49 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5677I was recently asked by one of my mentoring clients what are my success rituals. As I reflected on the question I’ve come to realize that repetitive behaviors performed over time often become a habit. That habit, if positively channeled, … Continue reading →

I was recently asked by one of my mentoring clients what are my success rituals. As I reflected on the question I’ve come to realize that repetitive behaviors performed over time often become a habit. That habit, if positively channeled, can then evolve into a ritual that would impact the quality of our life and success.

It became apparent to me that when I am in control of my mornings, I am then able to set the productive and enjoyable tone for the rest of my day, control my day and navigate towards my desired goals.

Here are my typical morning rituals:

Wake up early after typically a great night of sleep. This usually is between 6 and 7AM and I often beat my iPhone alarm.

Cleanse myself. You know, the usual brushing of teeth and washing. (I know this borders on TMI but I promised to share my rituals).

Drink lots of water.

Do my aerobic (6 days a week) and weight (3 days a week) workout routines. There are days that I do it in the afternoon but I usually prefer to do it in the morning.

Take a shower and get ready mentally for another great day.

Have a healthy breakfast, take my supplements, drink much water and prepare my cappuccino.

Stimulate my mind with reading or listening or watching a great video, thinking and reflection time and journaling.

Review my top goals, projects and commitments for the day that I will execute.

Go and make it another amazing day!

I am curious what your rituals are and how you leverage them for success. My best learning comes from you and I would love for you to share. Post on my blog or wherever you see this on social media or send me an email. Thank you!

I view morning rituals as the compass and oxygen that guide and propel us to move through our day with enthusiasm, energy and passion to achieve our goals.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-your-rituals/feed/0Become the Lever That Propels Your Clients to New Heightshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/become-the-lever-that-propels-your-clients-to-new-heights/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/become-the-lever-that-propels-your-clients-to-new-heights/#respondWed, 26 Apr 2017 21:20:01 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5644Archimedes once said: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” With the right support and some smart leverage, we’re all capable of moving the world—both in our … Continue reading →

Archimedes once said: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” With the right support and some smart leverage, we’re all capable of moving the world—both in our personal lives and our businesses. But I’ve come to realize that we also have an obligation to become that “lever” for our clients, propelling them to new heights of personal and professional growth.

Supporting clients isn’t just about delivering your product or service successfully. It’s about building strong, trusting relationships that transcend the simple transaction of buying and selling. Ultimately, we all have the responsibility to help our clients reach their goals and accomplish key achievements. The truth is that your clients’ personal goals are inextricably linked to their business objectives: The more success they have on a personal level, the stronger their success in business will be.

When entrepreneurs focus too much on delivering their services and products to clients, they often forget about their role in helping their clients grow. Here are three powerful questions to ask yourself to help you become the influential “lever” that gives your clients the game-changing support they need to advance:

What am I doing to help my clients gain more customers? Commit yourself to making introductions for your clients on a regular basis, and act as a true connector to their potential clients.

How am I promoting my clients’ businesses? Use your own platform to put your clients in the spotlight every now and then. Proactively promote and share your clients’ successes with your audience.

Am I there for my clients when they truly need me? You might deliver your products and services right on time, but are you there when your clients need you most? Make yourself available to talk to your clients and give them advice when they ask for it—even if it’s not business-related.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/become-the-lever-that-propels-your-clients-to-new-heights/feed/0Chad Barr Interviews Scott Wintrip’s and discuss his new book – High Velocity Hiringhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/chad-barr-interviews-scott-wintrip-on-scotts-new-book-high-velocity-hiring/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/chad-barr-interviews-scott-wintrip-on-scotts-new-book-high-velocity-hiring/#respondWed, 26 Apr 2017 16:56:56 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5631In this podcast Scott discusses: How to hire top talent, The trigger to writing this book, How to attract the best, Slow to hire, quick to fire, What does Zero to Fill™ mean, And much more… In High Velocity Hiring, … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/chad-barr-interviews-scott-wintrip-on-scotts-new-book-high-velocity-hiring/feed/0In this podcast Scott discusses: How to hire top talent, The trigger to writing this book, How to attract the best, Slow to hire, quick to fire, What does Zero to Fill™ mean, And much more… In High Velocity Hiring, … Continue reading →
* How to hire top talent,
* The trigger to writing this book,
* How to attract the best,
* Slow to hire, quick to fire,
* What does Zero to Fill™ mean,
* And much more…

In High Velocity Hiring, Scott reveals his system for filling jobs effectively and instantly―making it your ultimate weapon in winning the war for talent.Get Your Copy Today

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/chad-barr-interviews-scott-wintrip-the-new-way-to-hire/feed/0In this podcast Scott discusses: What it means to hire in an instant, Providing value, How to create remarkable content and strengthen thought leadership, Digital Empire Creation® and turning bumps into opportunities, Overcoming challenges and more…
In this podcast Scott discusses:

* What it means to hire in an instant,
* Providing value,
* How to create remarkable content and strengthen thought leadership,
* Digital Empire Creation® and turning bumps into opportunities,
* Overcoming challenges and more…

]]>The Chad Barr GroupWhat’s Your Transformation?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-transformation/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-transformation/#respondWed, 19 Apr 2017 20:44:55 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5624Earlier today, I was reflecting on a powerful concept that has greatly influenced my life and business over the years: Transformation. Every day, I strive to bring transformation to my clients, enabling them to improve their businesses, change their lives, … Continue reading →

Earlier today, I was reflecting on a powerful concept that has greatly influenced my life and business over the years: Transformation. Every day, I strive to bring transformation to my clients, enabling them to improve their businesses, change their lives, and ultimately reach their dreams. I also constantly think about my own transformations: How I can transform the world around me for the better, and how I can transform myself and my business to keep on the cutting-edge of thought leadership.

Throughout the years, I’ve noticed some common “transformation” themes among entrepreneurs, companies, and colleagues I’ve worked with. Here are 8 of the most powerful ways that people seek to find—and create—transformation in their lives and businesses:

They want to attract more clients so they can transform the lives of more people.

They want to increase their global reach to share their wisdom, knowledge, and expertise with more of the world.

They want to increase their revenues and profits to transform their business into a stronger, more impactful company.

They want to create a “dream life” for themselves and their families, and live remarkable new experiences, every day.

They want to achieve the freedom to do what they want, when they want, where they want—both for themselves, and for their clients.

They want to transform into tomorrow’s thought leaders, sought-after experts, and innovators.

They want to gain financial security and independence, not just for their own sake, but also so they can contribute to great causes they believe in.

They want to transform the world so that it’s better off than when they got here.

Some of these might seem like pipe dreams—but why not play big? Who are you to stand in your own way, when you could be fulfilling your amazing potential to impact others? Don’t be the greatest obstacle to your own success, and the success of those around you.

The first step to achieving great transformation? Get rid of the fear and anxiety of asking people for referrals and introductions, and start striving for your dreams. Don’t think about it as asking people for their business—think about it as sharing your incredible value with as many people as you can. You have a responsibility to help your clients transform into the people they want to be.

Are you ready for a transformation? It’s time to think about all the ways you want to help others transform—and how you can transform yourself—for the better.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-transformation/feed/0Trapping Your Audience with Binary Questionshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/trapping-your-audience-with-binary-questions/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/trapping-your-audience-with-binary-questions/#respondWed, 12 Apr 2017 18:22:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5615What’s your reaction to binary questions? The sort of questions that demand a yes or no answer. I confess that I’ve used them and recommended their use in the past but have recently changed my mind. Binary questions often feel … Continue reading →

What’s your reaction to binary questions? The sort of questions that demand a yes or no answer. I confess that I’ve used them and recommended their use in the past but have recently changed my mind. Binary questions often feel like a trap, they suggest a too good to be true potential outcome and represent the kind of questions that patronize our intelligence. Here are a few examples:

Is there a genius inside of you?

Are you suffering from the “me too” syndrome?

Is your business headed for disaster?

Are you on track to have your best year ever?

Are you effective at getting referrals?

I find above such questions to be obnoxious, which leads me to respond with a “Duh!”

So what’s the alternative?

Although there is probably a place and a time for binary questions, I prefer and recommend the use of thought-provoking, open-ended questions that are significantly more powerful and effective. Such open-ended questions would often start with: what, why, how, when, where and who. Let me share some examples:

Why not join us and start your remarkable transformation now?

How do you envision your future and where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

What is the voice that holds you back and how can you silence it?

When are you going to grow your business 10X and how will you get there?

Which new products and services are you developing and what markets are you planning to penetrate?

Here are some of our clients most profound innovations. What are the ones you are most proud of?

Wouldn’t you agree that the latter type question are much more powerful than the former? Oops, I just asked you a binary question that some of you may answer with a “No.” So let me ask it differently:

How can you leverage the power of open-ended questions to engage your audience rather than trap them?

What if you could create your future, build an amazing life for you, your family and your clients by substituting binary questions with open-ended questions? Why not start crafting and following yours this week?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/trapping-your-audience-with-binary-questions/feed/0Are You Creating Adventures in Your Life?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-adventure-in-your-life/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-adventure-in-your-life/#respondWed, 05 Apr 2017 20:42:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5611Whenever I travel, I’m always looking for something adventurous to do: climb mountains, find the best view of the sunset, explore local gardens. Even when I’m at home, I seek out adventure in my everyday life. This “adventure mindset” has … Continue reading →

Whenever I travel, I’m always looking for something adventurous to do: climb mountains, find the best view of the sunset, explore local gardens. Even when I’m at home, I seek out adventure in my everyday life. This “adventure mindset” has led me down unbeaten paths to extraordinary experiences—both in my personal life, and in my business.

What kind of adventures are you creating in your own world?

Without adventure, life can quickly become boring, and we start to become complacent. Creating adventure—seeking out new and different experiences—is what gives meaning and excitement to our lives and businesses. Just yesterday, I took an early morning flight to Phoenix and headed straight to the city’s beautiful botanical gardens. I spent the day photographing exotic plants and gorgeous scenery, seeing things I never had before. Instead, I could have been relaxing at my hotel —but where’s the adventure in that? These found moments of discovering something new are what make life worth living.

The same is true for your business. While being adventurous at work won’t always yield amazing results, it’s always worthwhile to get out of your comfort zone. Otherwise, your business is sure to become stagnant. Just think of the great innovators who have changed the course of humanity over the centuries—Edison, Archimedes, Galileo—all people with an adventure mindset who were never content with the status quo.

You might not be inventing the first light bulb, but your adventures can still have a powerful, lasting impact on your own life and business, your family, friends, and customers. To adopt an adventure mindset, try asking yourself the following 5 questions:

What can I do differently? What existing products and services can you improve upon, adjust, or tweak in an exciting way? Think of new ways to approach your current business that might give you a different perspective on your core offerings.

What should I stop doing? Are there certain products or services that no longer serve your customers? Maybe it’s time to discontinue that product you’ve been selling for over a decade, and dream up something more relevant to your customers’ needs today. Or perhaps you could stop offering that service you’ve grown bored with over the years.

What new things can I try that I’ve never done before? Think totally outside your comfort zone! Really push the envelope to create new products and services you’ve never offered before.

What unbeaten path can I take? Is there an untapped area of your industry where you can be a pioneer? A brand new market to tackle? A new audience to cater to? Look for unbeaten paths where you can chart a course that no one has ever attempted before.

How can I chart new territory in my business? Consider new territories—geography, gender, age, corporation vs. consumer—that you can start to reach out to in your business. What exciting new categories can you add to your audience? Which offerings or products should I possibly terminate.

Remember, adventures are the key to staying excited about life and business. Without it, the creative spark fades just a little more with every year that passes by. Don’t be afraid to chart new adventures that might lead nowhere. They’ll eventually lead you to the greatest adventures of all.

Are you creating adventures in your life and business? It’s time to start pushing the boundaries and expanding the landscape of your life and work.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-creating-adventure-in-your-life/feed/0Our Amazing Hidden Opportunitieshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/our-amazing-hidden-opportunities/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/our-amazing-hidden-opportunities/#respondWed, 29 Mar 2017 23:15:48 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5607I was just glancing at my calendar when I realized how each item listed provides me the opportunity to further my knowledge and learning, ability to impact others, while creating remarkable experiences and transformations for me and those I care … Continue reading →

I was just glancing at my calendar when I realized how each item listed provides me the opportunity to further my knowledge and learning, ability to impact others, while creating remarkable experiences and transformations for me and those I care about. Here is my recap by quickly reviewing one week on my calendar:

Our clients need our help, advice, motivation and support more than we often realize. When was the last time you’ve pushed them to take action?

Our clients can often provide us with help, advice and support more than we often realize. Do you ask for help or advice?

We face many opportunities to promote our clients and the growth of their businesses. How often do you do that?

Scheduled thinking time will often produce greater results than other scheduled tasks or unscheduled activities. What’s on your calendar?

Each day provides a new opportunity to start something new such as your next invention, product and service. What are you working on and when will it get released?

Getting in great physical shape has proven to dramatically improve every aspect of our life and business. How often do you work out and to what level of intensity?

It’s time to enjoy life, treat ourselves kindly and reward ourselves often. What do you do to promote this mindset?

If you want to grow your business, schedule weekly business growth meetings with partners, clients and prospective clients. How many appointments are on your schedule?

Our clients often rely on their spouse or partner for support. Do you get them involved to further promote their success?

Technology such as Skype, Zoom or others can help you improve your ongoing communication with your clients and team. Are you leveraging it in your business?

There are so many ways to stimulate our thinking and advance our progress and the quality of our journey. It may be the books we read, the developmental experiences we attend, the content we consume, or the trusted advisors we allow into our lives. How about you?

Monitor, adjust as needed and constantly push the progress of your projects to make sure you reach the anticipated goals. How are you monitoring and pushing yours?

Research has shown that good friendships and social connections improve the quality of our life and prolong it! What’s the state of your friendships?

Past relationships are a goldmine that is often untapped. Why not review these and contact a few?

I believe we are here to impact others and leave this place better than when we got here. How can you contribute and help someone?

I would not be where I am without the amazing talent of my team. What is the infrastructure of your team?

The extraordinary life I lead would not be possible without the support of my incredible wife and family. What are the amazing opportunities that shape your life and future?

View each moment on your calendar as the opportunity and gift you are given to create your wonderful future.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/our-amazing-hidden-opportunities/feed/0Are You the Best Version of Yourself?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-the-best-version-of-yourself/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-the-best-version-of-yourself/#respondWed, 22 Mar 2017 20:39:10 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5602I often challenge myself, my clients and my family to improve and become a better version of who we all are. Here are my latest learnings, reflections and recognitions: Commit yourself to become the best of who you are in … Continue reading →

Surround yourself with high performers, fascinating people and top thinkers who challenge you to learn and think differently.

To reach your dream and get started you must envision it and gain the step by step clarity.

The key to negotiation is your willingness to walk away and the key to becoming a great negotiator is to ask for one additional request after the “yes.”

Have you identified the kind of expertise you provide? How would you complete the sentence: “I am the…”

The internal conflict, self-sabotage, resistance or struggle are at their highest strength when you are closer to reaching your dreams or dare to think bigger. Accept these as your sign of remaining committed and being on the right track.

Are there any situations or discussions you are avoiding right now that limit your freedom, growth and potential progress?

Do you often get overwhelmed or suffer the feeling of burnouts? If so, develop a plan to eradicate these from your life. Are your distractions bigger than your dreams? Stop bragging about how busy you are since it’s not an award worth parading.

The only way to get there is to create a clear plan (GPS), work it (act) and track the progress (measure).

Are you lost in learning or in progress? The greatest learning and highest productivity take place during the execution of the ideas.

Give yourself the gift of becoming the best version of yourself in the next 12 months.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-the-best-version-of-yourself/feed/05 Moves to Create the Next 5 Moveshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/5-moves-to-create-the-next-5-moves/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/5-moves-to-create-the-next-5-moves/#respondWed, 15 Mar 2017 20:44:10 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5598Any project, no matter how large or small, can and should be broken down into five key steps to take it from inception to fruition. Try and achieve it in less than five steps and it is often way too … Continue reading →

Any project, no matter how large or small, can and should be broken down into five key steps to take it from inception to fruition. Try and achieve it in less than five steps and it is often way too simplistic. On the other hand, if there are more than five steps, it becomes too complicated. The key to achieving this productive and dramatic success is to identify the five steps. Here are my 5 moves to help you create your next five moves:

Find a creative space/place. The kind of place that makes you feel comfortable and stimulates your mind. It could be your backyard (depending upon the season), 32,000 feet in the air, your beautiful office, the corner coffee shop or during your walks. It’s now your thinking time to identify the project you’re most passionate about that will create the most powerful results for you and those you impact.

Collect everything that represents these potential moves and place into some sort of a capturing mechanism. It could be a whiteboard, a blank sheet of paper, your computer, or any other tool or platform that works. Do not put on any filters, just store any ideas and insights that represent these potential moves.

Filter time. It’s now time to review your list and pull out the top five most important milestone moves that will create the momentum to move forward towards the successful completion. Keep in mind that some of these moves may be sequential and some could be parallel in their execution, which means that some moves may have to performed prior to the next one while others may be executed concurrently.

Organize your five key moves in logical action steps that will catapult the momentum forward. Then run the backward/forward test where you first focus on assembling your list in a reverse order, meaning you start with the final step number 5 and then move back towards step 1. Then make sure that moving through steps 1 to 5 is logical and powerful.

Execute. The only way to guarantee your five moves are performed flawlessly is to commit and take action with the first step.

Pick out your next big project and break it down to its five key moves. Then take action starting with step number 1 and let me know when you achieve your impact.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/5-moves-to-create-the-next-5-moves/feed/0Driving Traffic to Your Sitehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/driving-traffic-to-your-site/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/driving-traffic-to-your-site/#respondWed, 08 Mar 2017 20:12:41 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5592One of the most popular questions we are asked is how to improve the traffic to the site. Below is a list I compiled to help you do exactly that: Identify and research your target audience, their preferences, challenges, desires, … Continue reading →

Make sure your site is mobile ready since more and more searches are done on mobile devices, otherwise, your potential traffic will be penalized.

Focus on quality rather than quantity. It is better to gain a smaller group of interested and qualified buyers than attracting a large number of the wrong audience, which is a complete waste of time and distraction.

Publish as often as you can. Be remarkable and consistent and don’t stop.

Appreciate that it’s not about how many people show up, but what is the action they take and their conversion rate.

Encourage them to like and share.

Build affiliate relationships

Repurpose your older content and especially your hidden gems.

Leverage as many venues (articles, podcasts, videos, infographics,) and platforms (web sites, social media, iTunes, YouTube) that you are capable of using that showcase your strengths and service of others.

Reference and highlight your content (featured link or URL) when being interviewed, or interviewing others or during your presentations.

Attract guests posting and contributions.

When interviewing others and posting on your channels, ask the interviewee to share with their audience.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/driving-traffic-to-your-site/feed/0Be There for Your Clients – When They Need You Mosthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/be-there-for-your-clients-when-they-need-you-most/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/be-there-for-your-clients-when-they-need-you-most/#respondWed, 01 Mar 2017 21:35:02 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5584Have you ever sensed a change in a client’s mood, behavior, or tone of voice—where it seemed like something was just a bit off? As professionals, we’re conditioned to stay focused on business and avoid delving into the personal sphere … Continue reading →

Have you ever sensed a change in a client’s mood, behavior, or tone of voice—where it seemed like something was just a bit off? As professionals, we’re conditioned to stay focused on business and avoid delving into the personal sphere with our clients. But ignoring the warning signs of a client who seems upset, sad, distracted, or troubled isn’t the right approach. Instead, you should be there for your clients when they need you most.

There are 3 major warning signs that a client is facing some kind of challenge or adversity:

The client is less responsive. If your client usually responds to you within a few hours, but you haven’t heard back for over a week, something could be going on.

The client is in a state of confusion. Suddenly, it might seem like your client has competing priorities that came out of nowhere, and is unable to juggle all the responsibilities in a calm manner.

The client’s behavior has changed. Maybe your client is short with you on the phone, quieter than usual, or acting in a way that’s totally uncharacteristic.

As entrepreneurs, I believe we have an obligation to help our clients when they’re facing adversity. (Within reason, of course! We don’t want to become their therapists, after all.) When these warning signs show up with my own clients, I always do my best to connect with them as quickly as possible to discuss what’s going on.

Some clients are quick to tell me that they’re facing a minor challenge in their business, or a major challenge in their personal life. Others are less inclined to share what’s troubling them, since it could be related to family or health. Either way, I make it a point to tell these clients that I’m there for them, and I’m happy to help however I can.

In many of these cases, clients might feel overwhelmed, and as a result, want to stop working with you—or at least put a hold on the current project you’re working on. The best way to handle these situations is to lead with compassion. Don’t make it about you or the project. Make it all about the client, and how you can help make things better.

Here are 5 key strategies for helping clients who are going through challenging times:

Be completely willing to be there for them. You must be intentional about helping your clients who are facing adversity. Be in the moment when you speak with them, and stay focused on what they’re telling you. Listen. Think of ways you can be of help, and never think about what’s in it for you.

Lead with a voice and spirit of compassion. This is self-explanatory. Don’t be judgmental or come across as impatient or annoyed. Lead with compassion.

Show confidence. It’s your job to point these clients in the right direction. Talk to them with confidence and calmness, so that you show them that you’re confident in their ability to overcome the challenge at hand.

Outline the first step they can take. Give these clients a quick first step they can take to start to pull themselves out of the rut they’re in. Don’t overwhelm them with data or advice. Just outline the first step they can take to start making things better.

Create an action plan. Establish a simple, clear action plan to keep the momentum going, and encourage them to commit to it.

How mentally and emotionally available are you for your clients? Remember that helping your clients stay on top of their game will only improve the work you do together. If you can help keep your clients’ minds clear and free from distractions, they’ll put more into their work with you—and get better results, too.

It’s important to be there for your clients when they need you most. Don’t ignore the warning signs! Show confidence, compassion, and leadership to help your clients overcome adversity.

One of my biggest pet peeves is boring content especially when presented by smart thinkers. My simplest gauge used to measure the impact of such content is whether my reaction falls under the category of “boring” or “so what?” vs. “wow!”, “this is profound” or “I never thought about it this way.”

Over the years, I suggested that in order to increase your audience interest and engagement you must increase the level of your provocative content and the provocative questions you ask. I realize that being provocative can have a negative association. Just look at the dictionary definition: “causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.” Yet, the origin of the word “provoke” and some Thesaurus recommendations are: “elicit, induce, excite, spark off, kindle, stimulate and more.” And that’s where I see the power and effectiveness.

There is a fine line between being provocative vs. offensive or sarcastic. The key is to shake them up or positively provoke them to think differently and mobilize them to take action and make a positive and impactful change.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-provocative-are-you/feed/0Do Your Photos Lie? Why They Should Always Tell the Truthhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-your-photos-lie-why-they-should-always-tell-the-truth/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-your-photos-lie-why-they-should-always-tell-the-truth/#respondWed, 15 Feb 2017 21:54:36 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5576What does your business have in common with online dating? As it turns out, quite a lot. In both situations, the images you post can make all the difference between a great connection or a really sour interaction. Posting misleading … Continue reading →

What does your business have in common with online dating? As it turns out, quite a lot. In both situations, the images you post can make all the difference between a great connection or a really sour interaction.

Posting misleading photos on dating websites—like that glamour shot from 1997 that shows you 20 years younger and 20 pounds lighter—will only hurt you when the actual date rolls around. And just the same, posting outdated images of yourself on your business website can irreversibly taint your clients’ perception of you.

So, why do so many people do it? As I scroll through business websites, I’m always shocked to see headshots that date back to the 90s, or antiquated graphics that look like they ushered in Y2K. Unfortunately, few entrepreneurs seem to understand the power of online images to build trust, credibility, and good rapport with their prospects.

The images on your website show people who you are. If a client walks into a room to meet you for the first time, but can’t recognize you right away, then your website images have failed miserably. But it’s not just about your headshot; it’s about all the images on your site. From photos of you and your team, to graphics that illustrate your business ideas and diagrams that explain your services, the visual aspects of your website should never be overlooked.

If you think it might be time to overhaul the imagery on your site, take a look at some of my tips to see where you stand:

Update photos every 2 or 3 years. As a general rule, you shouldn’t have the same photo on your website in 2017 that was there in 2014. Make it a point to regularly update your headshots and those of your team every 2 to 3 years.

Update photos whenever your look changes. Get a dramatic new haircut? Lose 50 pounds? Gain 50 pounds? Whenever your look changes substantially, it’s time for a new photo on your website. Remember, clients should always be able to recognize you immediately from your photos online.

Use powerful graphics. Are your graphics up-to-date? Work with a professional graphic designer to make sure your infographics, diagrams, charts, and process visuals are powerful additions to your website.

Don’t use images just for the sake of it. They say a picture is worth a thousand words…but do the words even make sense? Do your images help get your message across—or do they make it more difficult for visitors to wade through the information on your site? Make sure you’re only using powerful graphics that help your case, rather than hurt it.

It can be easy to overlook the images on your site, but they have a huge impact on your clients and prospects. This year, commit to a regular schedule of updated images—so your clients are never caught off guard when they finally meet you.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-your-photos-lie-why-they-should-always-tell-the-truth/feed/0Do You Offer a Concierge Service?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-offer-a-concierge-service/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-offer-a-concierge-service/#respondWed, 08 Feb 2017 21:59:20 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5572When was the last time you received the royal treatment? Moreover, don’t you love it when you are given the red-carpet experience? Of course you do. We all like to feel special and receive that special touch. No matter what … Continue reading →

When was the last time you received the royal treatment? Moreover, don’t you love it when you are given the red-carpet experience? Of course you do. We all like to feel special and receive that special touch. No matter what your product and service offerings are, you can easily incorporate this concept in your business and delight your clients.

One of the ideas I have been recommending to our clients is to create a “Concierge” or a VIP service where they can offer their client this extra added bonus. One such example is to build an online repository of some of your best content and insights that is ONLY available to your clients.

This would then become a powerful value to your existing clients but also a dominant marketing leverage point that you may communicate with your prospective clients. You can share with them that much of your content is available on your web site for free. However, once they become a client, they would immediately gain access to a high-end level of powerful and provocative content to further help their growth and success.

I strongly believe that our clients deserve the best. Creating such service enables us to push the envelope, push us to create and place our best insights on such platform, to significantly impact the success of our clients.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-offer-a-concierge-service/feed/0Have You Squeezed Them Lately?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-squeezed-them-lately/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-squeezed-them-lately/#respondWed, 01 Feb 2017 22:03:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5568One of the most effective ways of staying in touch with your clients and grow your business is by emailing them your insights, engaging them in stimulating conversations and recommending various valuable offers. The key challenge is how to attract … Continue reading →

One of the most effective ways of staying in touch with your clients and grow your business is by emailing them your insights, engaging them in stimulating conversations and recommending various valuable offers. The key challenge is how to attract new followers to provide you with their email address so you may stay in touch with them and turn them into raving clients.

Squeeze pages (also known as a lead magnet pages) are landing pages on your site that are designed to accomplish this task. The purpose of such page is to allure (or “squeeze”) the visitor to enter and provide their email address in return for an irresistible offer. I realize that most guard their email address and are reluctant to provide it. Yet, the more powerful and irresistible the offer, the more likely the visitor is to want it and enter their email address in return.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/have-you-squeezed-them-lately/feed/0Discard & Delegate! How to Defeat Your Business Paralysishttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discard-delegate-how-to-defeat-your-business-paralysis/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discard-delegate-how-to-defeat-your-business-paralysis/#respondWed, 25 Jan 2017 19:32:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5564We’ve all been there before: The emails, voicemails, and to-do lists keep piling up, but nothing seems to be getting done. “Business paralysis” is a common issue for entrepreneurs everywhere, who love the excitement of new ideas, and constantly seek … Continue reading →

We’ve all been there before: The emails, voicemails, and to-do lists keep piling up, but nothing seems to be getting done. “Business paralysis” is a common issue for entrepreneurs everywhere, who love the excitement of new ideas, and constantly seek out fresh insights.

But the only way to fix paralysis at your business is to focus on one small thing at a time—and make sure your big initiatives are crystal clear.

There are quite a few initiatives my team and I have been working on including the creation of a new product among the many other projects.

Still, I can’t just shut down the rest of my business to solely work on the product. Instead, I have to expertly manage the influx of messages and requests I get from clients, colleagues, and partners every day—all without losing sight of my biggest goal.

To navigate this common problem, I’ve developed a powerful 5-step model: Discard, Delegate, Outsource, Schedule, Take Action. Here’s how it works:

Discard. As soon as a new idea, communication, message, or insight gets put in front of you, ask yourself, “In this truly important right now?” If the answer is “no,” then get rid of it right away. Discard it. By taking this simple first step, you can eliminate tons of distractions from your business at the get-go, before they start to unravel your focus.

Delegate. If you simply can’t discard something that comes your way, your next move is to delegate the task to someone else. Whether it’s having a member of your team research a new idea you’d like to know more about, or letting your assistant respond to emails and schedule meetings for you, delegating can save you time, energy, and focus for the bigger initiatives on your plate.

Outsource. Don’t have someone at your company who you can delegate to? It’s time to outsource. Get creative about how to ask for help from outside sources, so that you can prioritize your own agenda.

Schedule. Sometimes, there are tasks that only you can perform. When this happens, smart scheduling is your most powerful tool. Don’t force yourself to take on new tasks or explore new ideas right away—instead, schedule them for a specific time in the future, so that you can go back to focusing on what you need to do right now. The key is to make sure the future task doesn’t interfere with your current priorities.

Act. If all else fails, and a “distraction” requires your immediate attention, and assuming this is still important, then take action right away to deal with it. Don’t procrastinate; take action now and just get it done today so that you can move on tomorrow with your truly important work.

At the end of the day, it’s important not to let the daily influx of messages and distractions drive your work activity. Only pay attention to your email and phone at certain times each day. Never check your messages constantly or divert the course of your day as soon as you receive a message or come across something exciting. Remember to focus on your own agenda, not the agendas of those who are reaching out to you. Commit to moving forward with a specific action each day, week, and month—and stick with it.

The Discard & Delegate system will make you far more productive and efficient. If you’re ready to defeat your business paralysis, it’s time to start implementing it right away.

Discard what needs to be discarded, and always delegate if you can. Keep your big priorities at the center of your tasks, and don’t let distractions lead to “business paralysis.”

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/discard-delegate-how-to-defeat-your-business-paralysis/feed/0What’s On My Mind?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-my-mind/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-my-mind/#respondWed, 18 Jan 2017 17:26:39 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5560In my previous newsletter, I asked you what’s on your mind. I received quite a lot of great feedback while some inquired as to how I answered these questions. Here are my replies to the points from last week: If … Continue reading →

In my previous newsletter, I asked you what’s on your mind. I received quite a lot of great feedback while some inquired as to how I answered these questions. Here are my replies to the points from last week:

If being world-class level was easy, everyone would then be doing it. The three initiatives you are working on right now to create world-class results are…

Developing our new digital empire creation online product and launching it this quarter.

Attracting new strategic speaking opportunities.

Create relationships with some of the top thinkers / thought leaders in the world.

The best in the world set no more than three major initiatives and devote their entire uninterrupted energy to executing and completing them before committing to new initiatives. Your three major initiatives are…

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-my-mind/feed/0What’s On Our Mind?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-our-mind/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-our-mind/#respondWed, 11 Jan 2017 21:50:38 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5557You would probably agree with the statement that we are what we think about or the thoughts we allow into our minds. Here are the thoughts and insights that occupy my mind: If being world-class level was easy, everyone would … Continue reading →

You would probably agree with the statement that we are what we think about or the thoughts we allow into our minds. Here are the thoughts and insights that occupy my mind:

If being world-class level was easy, everyone would then be doing it. The three initiatives you are working on right now to create world-class results are…

The best in the world set no more than three major initiatives and devote their entire uninterrupted energy to executing and completing them before committing to new initiatives. Your three major initiatives are…

Celebrate the completion of key initiatives and accomplishments with your spouse, partner, team and clients. Your next celebration will be…

Small improvements executed over time become outstanding results. The three improvements you are focusing on right now are…

Surround yourself with people, environment and experiences that inspire you to become a better version of who you are. Name such person, environment and experience…

The best in the world bring extraordinary levels of energy to their personal and business lives. The energy level you should bring into your life and business is…

Stop talking about what you will do and just do it. It will be done by…

Deliver transformational growth value and results to your clients and they will fall in love with you. Such examples are…

Our kids often teach us the lessons we need to Learn. Several such lessons are…

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-on-our-mind/feed/0Insights Are All Around Ushttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/insights-are-all-around-us/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/insights-are-all-around-us/#respondThu, 05 Jan 2017 02:43:01 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5552I was reviewing my night photos I captured from some of my recent trips to San Diego, Orlando and Santa Monica. What jumped out at me were some life and business insights that I gleaned from these images and realized … Continue reading →

I was reviewing my night photos I captured from some of my recent trips to San Diego, Orlando and Santa Monica. What jumped out at me were some life and business insights that I gleaned from these images and realized that these insights are all around us. We must simply heighten our senses and learn from our surroundings.

Here are some of what I saw in the pictures and how I see them apply to life and business:

Beauty – When passion is an integral part of our business and our life, beauty then is evident.

Congruency – We further thrive and improve our success when all the pieces of the puzzle are in balance and harmony.

Strategy – How would you paint a picture of success? The answer to this question is your strategy.

Tactics – The action steps require to execute towards our strategy.

Planning – How, will you execute your tactics to reach your strategy? When will each step be done, who will do it and where?

Creativity – It’s our ability to create new offerings of value that make us attractive and irresistible in the eyes of our clients.

Mystery – There is such an element as we forecast into the future, create new offerings or penetrate new markets.

Story – What is the one you tell yourself and the one you share with the world?

Surprise – What has surprised you and how prepared were you when it happened?

Reflection – How often do you have the opportunity to reflect? Hopefully, very often.

Evolution – Do you reinvent yourself and your business consistently? What are the new things you are doing now that you have not done just a few years ago?

Wow – Does your business create such experiences and results for your clients?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/insights-are-all-around-us/feed/012 Best Lessons Learned From 2016https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/12-best-lessons-learned-from-2016/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/12-best-lessons-learned-from-2016/#respondThu, 29 Dec 2016 02:12:22 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5543As another year comes to an end and things quiet down around me, I find this time to be the perfect opportunity to reflect, recharge and reposition myself for the new year. I would like to share my 12 best … Continue reading →

As another year comes to an end and things quiet down around me, I find this time to be the perfect opportunity to reflect, recharge and reposition myself for the new year.

I would like to share my 12 best lessons learned from 2016 with you:

Continued commitment to the creation of unique intellectual property. One of the key attributes of great thought leaders is their prolific publishing of amazing content in multiple media formats. I am proud to keep this trend going by publishing my three books this year among other creations while challenging my clients to do the same.

Surround myself with genius. It’s through the books I read, the content I consume, the innovative leaders I network with, the unique relationships I create with fascinating thinkers, my amazing clients and my team.

Invest in myself. Each year I select several personal and business growth experiences that challenge my thinking and allow me to think bigger.

The biggest change comes from within and with the support of others. 14 weeks ago, I decided to make dramatic changes to improve my health and nutrition. I did so by removing all bad carbs, sweets and most dairy from my diet. I started to walk an hour a day and hired my trainer to push and inspire me three times a week. The mental and physical transformation has been astonishing including reducing my weight by 38 pounds so far.

Remove the toxicity in my life. This health and nutrition upgrade has made me realize that removing this toxicity applies to other areas of my life such as terminating relationships that were no longer productive and reassessing beliefs and habits that needed change or elimination.

Thinking and down time. I am passionate and love what I do but I also realize that the lines of demarcation between work and pleasure are foggy. Earlier this year, I made the decision not to work on the weekends, take off Friday afternoons and take breaks during the day to generate energy for thinking time and other enjoyments.

Leverage my strengths and prior successes. Unlike the popular book title, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, and I know this may sound counterintuitive, but I strongly believe that what got me here actually will get me there!

Create powerful and lasting rituals. Every Sunday evening I review the prior week, its major accomplishments and challenges and plan the key goals to accomplish next week. Each morning I journal and commit to several micro wins to undertake that day and each evening I write down three things I am grateful for.

My calendar is my secret weapon. I view my calendar as my digital accountability partner. It became a game-changer when I realized the need to not only schedule and execute my appointments and tasks but to make sure I break down and schedule my dreams and my exciting huge projects.

Developing my hobby. Although music is in my DNA, this year, I advanced my photography hobby to a new level, which has brought me tremendous joy and pride and has also created some amazing adventures, precious moments and a spiritual connection.

Create greater impact through greater value. With the omnipresence of smartphones, almost 50% of the world’s population is currently connected to the Internet, which is the equivalent to 3.5 billion users. Billions more will be added and connected in the next few years. As this growth continues, more individuals and organizations are in need of our products, services and our transformational impact. Among several exciting new products and services we are working on launching in 2017, the one to help individuals and organizations create their amazing content and digital empire is at the top of the list.

Supported by my loving family.

Thank you for your support and Happy New Year.

Consider this time for reflection, recharge and reposition yourself for an amazing 2017.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/12-best-lessons-learned-from-2016/feed/0Happy Holidayshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/happy-holidays-3/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/happy-holidays-3/#respondWed, 21 Dec 2016 17:47:50 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5538All of us at The Chad Barr Group wish you and yours a season of warmth, joy and peace. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey to success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/happy-holidays-3/feed/0What Are Their Challengeshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-their-challenges/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-their-challenges/#respondThu, 15 Dec 2016 01:28:20 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5535I just reviewed some recent conversations I had with clients and prospective clients and here are the key issues or challenges they raised: How do I improve my brand and my credibility? How can I better attract new clients and … Continue reading →

I just reviewed some recent conversations I had with clients and prospective clients and here are the key issues or challenges they raised:

How do I improve my brand and my credibility?

How can I better attract new clients and open up new markets?

What is my strategic focus?

Can I better monetize my content and offerings?

What shall I do if the prospect does not respond to my emails?

How can I reduce my labor intensity?

What are the best ways to strengthen my thought leadership?

I am ready to launch my new business, what shall I do next?

What are creative marketing ideas for my new offerings?

What are the best ways to hold myself accountable to achieve my goals and dreams?

I view such questions as a gift. Not only do they provide me the opportunity to help my clients resolved these challenges and improve their lives and their businesses, they also provide me the topics to create fresh new content and product and service offerings.

Next time you struggle with gaining new business or ideas to generate new content, start a genuine conversation with your clients and ask what key issues are they facing.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/achieving-web-presence-success/feed/1Leverage Content Creation to Become a Thought Leaderhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/leverage-content-creation-to-become-a-thought-leader/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/leverage-content-creation-to-become-a-thought-leader/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 21:57:49 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5517Has it ever occurred to you that everything you need to become a thought leader is already swimming around inside your head? If not, it’s time to start thinking about it. Your unique experiences, ideas, insights, and stories are the … Continue reading →

Has it ever occurred to you that everything you need to become a thought leader is already swimming around inside your head? If not, it’s time to start thinking about it. Your unique experiences, ideas, insights, and stories are the key to thought leadership. But first, you have to let them out for other people to see, hear, and read!

Many entrepreneurs struggle with content creation because they’re afraid to share their thoughts with the world. Instead, they try to sound like everybody else. They write the occasional blog post or article—but it all falls flat, because it has no personality or unique point-of-view.

Don’t be one of those entrepreneurs. If you don’t start publishing prolific amounts of remarkable, unique content, then you’re destined for one thing: mediocrity. You’ll stay the “best-kept secret” in your field forever. At the same time, you’ll struggle to gain the confidence and self-esteem necessary to become a true thought leader.

Write a weekly or monthly newsletter (like this one!). Many of my clients have written newsletters for years, and then compiled their newsletter articles into booklets or e-books to publish later on. This is a fantastic way to create massive value out of quick, easy content creation.

Make a collection of visuals. Almost every entrepreneur has visuals that explain key business processes, challenges, or outcomes to their customers. Instead of just letting these languish in marketing material or on your website, compile them into a logical order, add some fresh content—and then publish the collection as a booklet or e-book.

Put your checklists to work. We all make checklists and how-to lists to help us achieve our goals and stay on track. If you’re an avid list-maker, use it to your advantage. Create valuable content for your customers by organizing all your checklists and how-to lists into an e-book or an online product.

Publish a book! No, it’s not impossible. Look through everything you’ve written over the years on a certain topic, and come up with a logical way to compile your content into chapters. It’s hard to believe, but you could actually have your very own book published soon.

No matter what approach you take, stay committed to creating content. Some of my clients who are reading this newsletter create their own newsletters, publish their own e-books, and write their own books. If you don’t, it’s time to start leveraging your content creation to become a thought leader.

Are you creating remarkable content on a consistent basis? If you want to become a thought leader in your field, it’s time to start now.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/leverage-content-creation-to-become-a-thought-leader/feed/0With Gratitudehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-gratitude/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-gratitude/#respondWed, 23 Nov 2016 20:52:50 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5513Tomorrow, here in the US, we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with our loved ones. There is so much I am grateful for and I want to sincerely thank YOU my: Reader — for reading my newsletters, for allowing me … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/with-gratitude/feed/0Who Are Your Top Customers?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/who-are-your-top-customers/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/who-are-your-top-customers/#respondWed, 16 Nov 2016 19:44:50 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5509Are you spending enough time on your top customers? No matter your industry, the answer to this question has tremendous impact on your business. Far too many people fail to focus on their top customers. Instead, they spread their resources … Continue reading →

Are you spending enough time on your top customers? No matter your industry, the answer to this question has tremendous impact on your business. Far too many people fail to focus on their top customers. Instead, they spread their resources thin over a crowd of less qualified clients. It’s time to take a step back and evaluate your own customer pool.

The first step is to ask yourself: Who are my top customers?

The ABC method is one of the best ways to get your answer. Simply categorize your clients into three groups: the absolute best, with the highest potential (A), the “good” clients (B), and the clients who give you the most difficulty and trouble (C). It might seem oversimplified, but this process works wonders to help you gain insight into your customer relationships.

If you’re like most people, then you have way more customers in the B and C categories than you should. Why? Because it’s extremely common to think that everyone who looks like a customer, is a customer.

On the contrary, it’s important to make sure potential clients are qualified before they become your customers. It’s a matter of saying “no” to new business when someone doesn’t fit your ideal profile of an A-level customer. And sometimes, it means saying “goodbye” to those existing customers who are draining your time, energy, and resources—for their benefit, and your own.

Here are some important questions to help you determine who your top customers are:

Does the customer bring you joy when you work together?

On a scale of 1–10, how would you rank your relationship with the customer? Would you say the relationship is rewarding for both of you?

Does the customer often push you to raise the bar in your work together? Does the customer come up with new ideas to help both of your businesses grow?

Does the customer send referrals to you on an ongoing basis?

Is the customer always excited and enthusiastic about engaging in your new offerings and services?

Does the customer give you testimonials that accurately reflect the great work you do?

Does the customer make suggestions for new services you should offer, and give you constructive feedback on your existing offerings?

As you can see, it’s not always about a dollar amount when it comes to identifying your top customers. Once you learn to focus on those customers who make you answer “yes” to the questions above, then you’ll see a marked transformation in your business. It’s all about working with people who bring you joy, and avoiding those who don’t.

While it can be difficult to say goodbye to customers, sometimes it’s what you have to do in order to help your business grow. The wish I have for you is that you surround yourself with A-level customers—and that they bring you even more A-level customers to work with.

Not every opportunity is a good opportunity. Learn to focus only on top customers, and avoid clients who drain your resources, energy, and enthusiasm for what you do.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/who-are-your-top-customers/feed/0It’s a New Dayhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/its-a-new-day/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/its-a-new-day/#respondWed, 09 Nov 2016 23:16:43 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5499It’s a new day. I know that because just like all other days the sun rose in the east this morning and is now setting in the cloudy skies of the west. I would be remiss if I overlooked the … Continue reading →

I know that because just like all other days the sun rose in the east this morning and is now setting in the cloudy skies of the west. I would be remiss if I overlooked the news of this new day that after a long and contentious, gut wrenching process, we have elected a new President and leader of the greatest nation on earth.

I myself am an immigrant, having arrived here 38 years ago, with $50 in my pocket and virtually no command of the English language. I learned to speak and read English; I studied, I practiced, and succeeded in my career. I never gave up the lifelong dream of my youth.

It doesn’t matter which side of the election you were on as passions ran high and took us all on this frenzied ride. What does matter today, is our passion and commitment to continue building bridges, strengthening our resolution to create the society that keeps this nation the great beacon of hope, light and opportunity that America represents. In business, as in our personal lives, challenges arise that tempt us with fear and anxiety, but we see the bigger and greater picture.

I pledge to make my business relationships even stronger, provide the greatest and most cutting edge products and service, and forge ahead creating new alliances and partnerships as I move ahead.

This country has been and always will be great in my book. It will continue to provide opportunities for us, challenges to overcome and the hope for a brighter tomorrow. I welcome each new day.

So while taking my morning walk, I reflected and decided to discuss the components of great content. Since powerful content is one of the key attributes of great thinkers and thought leaders, I decided to create the next infographic and share with you: 15 Ways To Authorship Mastery — Creating Amazing Content.

Have I missed any attributes of great content? Would love your feedback.

Time to unleash your creativity and share a new insight with the world. When you do so, please copy me.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-amazing-content-2/feed/0What’s Your Developmental Path? – Part 3https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-3/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-3/#respondWed, 26 Oct 2016 20:32:01 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5458Today is the third and final part in the series reflecting on my recent take-away from my developmental experiences. Here are the latest insights I’d like to share with you: Are you thinking big enough? To answer this question, consider … Continue reading →

Today is the third and final part in the series reflecting on my recent take-away from my developmental experiences. Here are the latest insights I’d like to share with you:

Are you thinking big enough? To answer this question, consider answering and evaluating the following: Are you doing something outside your comfort zone that even scares you? Are you living and leading an amazing life? Are you making small improvements daily? Are you focusing on more strategies than operational thinking?

What holds many entrepreneurs back? Thinking they need to do more planning rather than executing. Lack of confidence rather than rejoicing and appreciating their clients’ successes and results. Working in the business rather than on the business. Lack of focus, which is the success differentiator.

People love bonuses. What are the ones you provide with your product and service offerings?

If you want someone to promote your business, start by promoting their business.

Action takers attract and influence other action takers. Who have you attracted and influenced and who should you? Surround yourself with believers, dreamers that are doers.

Two of the five critical elements of success are patience and hard work. You can’t rush success or believe you will discover the silver bullet approach. But, once success starts, watch out, it becomes the snowball effect.

How inspirational are your case studies? Why not share an amazing story, preferably on video, of how profound of an impact your clients have achieved with your help?

When facing a new idea or an opportunity simply ask yourself whether this is a distraction or a game changer? The other question to ask is what will it cost you not to do it? The answers will help you calibrate whether you should discard it or take action.

When your products, services and your impact become so profound, you won’t have to sell them any longer, your clients will spread the word and do this for you.

Who and what are the relationships in your life that make you happy, while powerfully impacting, energizing and challenging you to become a better version of you? Build and nurture these relationships.

Energy or motivation or enthusiasm are not simply found or mysteriously discovered, you generate them! Build new habits and practices to create these in your daily routine.

There is precious time left for each one of us on this earth. What are you doing now and in each moment to seize the most out of life and make a profound impact on others?

The right developmental experiences have the potential to transform our lives and those we impact.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-3/feed/0What’s Your Developmental Path? – Part 2https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-2/#commentsWed, 19 Oct 2016 20:58:53 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5451Last week I shared with you some of the key learning highlights from my recent developmental experiences. I received great feedback and requests to continue this series. Here are additional insights to share with you this week: We rarely know … Continue reading →

Last week I shared with you some of the key learning highlights from my recent developmental experiences. I received great feedback and requests to continue this series. Here are additional insights to share with you this week:

We rarely know the struggles others face and often fall into the trap of believing that we are the only one going through struggles. This is not only a chance for us to calibrate our humility but to recognize the great need of helping others.

What is the profound cost your clients would realize if they don’t engage with your products and services? Here are some examples: Unable to reach their dreams. Unable to strengthen their thought leadership and global reach. Unable to impact others.

Create attention grabbing headlines and copy. Here is an example: Learn how to write amazing content without being a writer.

When you meet with your mastermind group, introduce a topic you need help with and give each member of your group a chance to give you’re their feedback quickly while writing it on a note card. This will allow you to be in the moment and walk away with multiple cards with their suggestions.

End your week (Sunday evening) by reviewing your prior week’s business and personal obstacles, accomplishments and big wins. Then commit to the projects and accomplishments you are planning to achieve the week to come. Do any of these support your big dreams?

Pull out an annual calendar and notate all holidays and special events. You could even create your own special days such as “content creation awareness day,” which is the one I am going to create and claim. Then develop unique content for these days to publish on your various platforms. You should never run out of ideas of what and when to write. How cool is this?

Do you know what is the biggest obstacle reporters face? It is the one of writing a great story. YOU are the unique expert they are looking for to develop their amazing story.

When you are looking for new topics and content to develop, fill in the blank after “what are the best _____?” Then go and create this content. Here are a few examples: a) What are the best strategies to monetize your content? b) What is the best question to ask your child? c) What are the best practices of the most successful entrepreneurs?

Life simply happens and with it brings positive and negative surprises, adversities to overcome and good and bad random events. Does it derail, overwhelm or recharge you?

When deciding which priorities you need to execute, eliminate the “shoulds” and focus on the “musts.”

When conducting an event ask your participants to answer the following two questions before concluding: a) When we first started I thought_____. b) But now I know____. This will often reveal powerful and profound insights.

One of the key success factors of productivity is to start working the end result in mind.

What are some of your most profound developmental experiences and insights you are willing to share? Would love to hear from you.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-2/feed/2What’s Your Developmental Path? – Part 1https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-1/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-1/#respondWed, 12 Oct 2016 21:16:11 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5447I’ve recently participated in several learning and developmental experiences, which have been profound. Here are some of the highlights I would like to share with you: We all have our distinct and remarkable capabilities that we often take for granted … Continue reading →

I’ve recently participated in several learning and developmental experiences, which have been profound. Here are some of the highlights I would like to share with you:

We all have our distinct and remarkable capabilities that we often take for granted yet others are astounded by these abilities. Have you identified yours?

One of my passions is in helping others pull great content out of their heads. My purpose here is to Digitize the World’s Wisdom by helping entrepreneurs and thinkers get out their remarkable knowledge. What are your passion and purpose?

Scarcity or a closing deadline are powerful motivators. Next time you release a product or service offering, include attractive deadlines.

We all have challenges (some would even wake us up at night) that we wish would vanish forever. Do you know what are your clients’ challenges and are you developing content and offerings to solve these?

The most successful entrepreneurs incorporate their big dreams and extraordinary projects into their calendar with concreate action steps and deadlines. Do you?

Our clients are willing and often enjoy giving advice. Have you asked them what they want and need and how you could be of help?

Even the best-laid plans can go wrong at times. Remember these are not failures but opportunities for lessons learned. The digital world enables us to change quickly. Perhaps it’s time for plan B?

Your content must be remarkable, original, and provocative at times, in order for others to share it with the world and increase your viral spread. How would you rank your content?

Many of us provide one-to-one coaching and advisory services, which is rewarding but labor intensive. Why not shift your business model to one-to-many, which will increase your reach and revenues, reduce your labor intensity and impact a larger audience?

I have a loving and supportive family, surrounded myself with an amazing team, and rely on a few trusted advisors. This is the key to the success of the best in the world. What’s your support system?

Remember the advice we used to get as young kids: “Don’t talk to strangers!” I can’t imagine growing my business unless I became effective and enjoying talking with strangers. What old baggage is holding you back that you should you get rid of?

Since biblical times, one of the best and most effective methods of communication was storytelling and that is the story today. What is your story and how effectively are you sharing it?

Identify your learning and development path to impact your journey and that of your clients.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-developmental-path-part-1/feed/0What’s Your Next Challenge?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-challenge/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-challenge/#respondWed, 05 Oct 2016 16:26:05 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5441I love taking on new challenges. In fact, I’m a firm believer that when we face challenges, we dramatically improve ourselves, in both our professional and personal lives. But not everyone seems to agree. I frequently come across entrepreneurs, consultants, … Continue reading →

I love taking on new challenges. In fact, I’m a firm believer that when we face challenges, we dramatically improve ourselves, in both our professional and personal lives. But not everyone seems to agree. I frequently come across entrepreneurs, consultants, and other individuals who avoid challenges like the plague. They’re content with the status quo, resigned to being “just good enough,” and reluctant to take any rewarding risks at work, or at home.

This type of complacency can be devastating to one’s creativity, ambition, and overall success. To avoid it myself, I’ve long held the mindset of continually asking myself, “What’s the next challenge?” In this way, I routinely check in with my goals and dreams, and don’t allow myself to get too comfortable with my current situation.

If you don’t challenge yourself about your next work project, life dream, or career ambition, life becomes stagnant. You never break through the “just good enough” fog for long enough to see your true potential—and realize it fully. The greatest innovators in the world constantly challenge themselves and push themselves to the next level. They never throw their hands up and say, “Well, that’s good enough. I’m done trying now.”

To jumpstart your own “What’s the next challenge?” mindset, try asking yourself these powerful questions whenever you start to feel complacent at work, or at home:

What’s one thing I’d like to do that I’ve never done before?

How can I significantly raise the bar on a work project that I’ve committed energy to? How can I push that project to a level of creativity and success I never thought possible?

What innovative thinkers and fascinating individuals should I make an effort to connect with? How could these people help me push the envelope in my professional or personal life?

What should I be doing in order to strengthen my love with my family and friends? How can I deepen my relationships with my loved ones, and find new meaning in those important relationships?

In the key areas that are meaningful to my life—such as health, communication, relationships, finance, career, and world impact—how can I challenge myself to create a more rewarding experience, for myself and those around me?

Today, we live in a world filled with incredible inventions, creative solutions, and wild possibilities—all because people asked themselves the questions listed above. Think of how much less remarkable our world would be if our greatest thinkers had never adopted the mindset of “What’s the next challenge?” Our world today would represent a mere fraction of humanity’s potential.

So it’s time for you to decide: What’s one incredible dream, remarkable goal, huge project, or challenging ambition that you want to start working on, right now? How would overcoming this challenge help you improve—and how would it influence the world to be a better place?

Fight back against complacency and adopt a mindset that pushes you to embrace challenges. Choose one goal that you can start working toward today, something that will take hard work, effort, and creativity—but you know is well worth the challenge. Then watch as your life becomes more meaningful, rewarding, and fulfilled.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-challenge/feed/0From Weakness to Strengthhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-weakness-to-strength/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-weakness-to-strength/#respondWed, 28 Sep 2016 21:54:07 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5436There is a common notion which is held by popular thought leaders that we should focus on our strengths and ignore or forget our weaknesses. I found this not only an absurdity but actually bad advice. When I first started … Continue reading →

There is a common notion which is held by popular thought leaders that we should focus on our strengths and ignore or forget our weaknesses.

I found this not only an absurdity but actually bad advice. When I first started my business I realized my strengths were in software development and my attention to details. Marketing, speaking, and content development were not only my weaknesses, but activities I actually dreaded doing.

I realized that in order to increase my success and global reach I must commit myself to work on improving these areas. Had I not focused and devoting my energy to greatly improving these weaknesses I would still be a software developer who pays much of his attention to details and would not have become passionate as a skilled speaker, marketer, content creator and web and business strategist.

Investigate the areas of weakness in your life and business and determine on which to focus your attention and energy to transform them into your greatest strengths.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-weakness-to-strength/feed/0Do You Have “Me Too” Syndrome?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-me-too-syndrome/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-me-too-syndrome/#respondWed, 21 Sep 2016 20:08:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5432It’s one of the most disturbing trends among so-called innovative thinkers: “me too” syndrome. No matter how intelligent, capable, or opinionated people are, they seem to fall into this trap as soon as someone makes a point or brings up … Continue reading →

It’s one of the most disturbing trends among so-called innovative thinkers: “me too” syndrome. No matter how intelligent, capable, or opinionated people are, they seem to fall into this trap as soon as someone makes a point or brings up an issue. “Me too! I agree with you!” is the first thing out of their mouth. But why? We seem to be living in an age of agreement, where no one wants to ruffle feathers or rock the boat by expressing a dissenting opinion.

This is a huge obstacle for anyone’s growth as a thought leader.

I see “me too” syndrome on the news, at business conference panels, in online groups and communities—and even in the conversations people have with their clients. The instinct to immediately agree with what someone says isn’t difficult to understand. We all want to fit in, sound smart, and get along with our colleagues and clients. But the reality is, this creates mediocrity. For your business, “me too” syndrome can quickly translate into a brand that’s forgettable at best—and nonexistent at worst.

Think about it: Why would your clients want to work with someone who simply agrees with everything they say? The last thing an executive wants is to hire a trusted advisor who says, “I agree!” and “Me too!” at every single meeting. While I’m not suggesting that you start playing devil’s advocate every time you hear an opinion, I encourage you to stop yourself the next time you feel “me too” syndrome coming your way.

It’s time to push the envelope—or, as I like to say, Raise the Bar(r)—when it comes to challenging others in a productive, useful, and courteous way. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Challenge conventional thinking. When you come across conventional wisdom, don’t take it at face value. Instead, flip it on its head. Challenge it. Examine all the reasons why that piece of wisdom might actually be wrong—and then express your new opinion to someone who might benefit from having that conversation with you.

Challenge your clients’ thinking. Instead of tip-toeing around your clients so you don’t upset their feelings, start to challenge their way of thinking. Provoke them to think in new ways. Get them to say, “Wow, that’s profound! I never thought about it that way before.” Once you start challenging their thinking, clients will get much more out of their relationship with you.

Grab attention. While you don’t want to say shocking things just for the sake of it, it’s important to express ideas that will grab attention and get people thinking in new ways. If someone quotes a piece of conventional wisdom that doesn’t quite make sense, shake things up by saying, “May I suggest a different way of looking at this?” or “What the heck does that mean?” instead of simply going along with it. By good-naturedly grabbing attention, you’ll start more valuable conversations.

Question the ideas you hear. When you hear other people’s ideas, question them. Think about how you can use the ideas to create new, better concepts. Consider whether there’s a visual that might help clarify someone’s point. If there’s a way to articulate the idea in a clearer, pithier way, then do it. By questioning the ideas you hear, you’ll help to improve upon them—and the world will be better because of it.

So what do you say? Do you agree? Go ahead—challenge my thinking! I welcome your opinion with an open mind.

It’s time to stop agreeing with everything you hear. The next time you’re about to agree with others, respond instead with, “May I suggest a different way of looking at this?” and see what happens.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-me-too-syndrome/feed/0I Will Never Forgethttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-will-never-forget/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-will-never-forget/#respondWed, 14 Sep 2016 20:54:05 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5424This past Sunday, September 11, I, along with the nation, recalled the tragedy that our great country suffered 15 years ago. As I watched the recorded footage from that fateful day, listened to the stories shared by family members and … Continue reading →

This past Sunday, September 11, I, along with the nation, recalled the tragedy that our great country suffered 15 years ago. As I watched the recorded footage from that fateful day, listened to the stories shared by family members and the reading of the names, I was reminded of my experience on that morning that seems so long ago and yet is forever ingrained in the forefront of my mind.

I had flown my entire team to a leadership development experience in Las Vegas, which had finished that morning and we were at the airport, like millions of others, waiting for our return flight home. When the news broke and the full comprehension of what had happened took hold of us, we began to scramble for transportation home. Planes were all grounded and every rental car was spoken for by noon.

We moved into action and were able to acquire seats on the Greyhound bus to Cleveland. We boarded that evening and rode for days, finally arriving to the downtown bus terminal; exhausted, disheveled, hungry and grateful. But we had nothing to complain about. My team had, as always, pulled together for one another, made it home together, safe and forever thankful.

I shall never forget that day and how our world had changed in a split second. The lives of our fellow Americans, allies and comrades around the world would never be the same. Sometimes I falter and become complacent.

But the reminder of what makes us a great nation comprised of individuals from all walks of life, including myself, an immigrant, remains at the core of my values. I make it my mission to be grateful each and every day for my clients, team, colleagues, friends and family in my life. Challenges arise, even crises, but I stand in awe and gratitude for all of them and all that I have.

Sunday was a painful reminder of the great loss of life this country suffered but awakened me once again to the great beauty and blessings that are here if we only open our eyes each and every day with gratitude.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-will-never-forget/feed/0I did not want to disappoint youhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-did-not-want-to-disappoint-you/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-did-not-want-to-disappoint-you/#respondWed, 07 Sep 2016 20:59:24 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5420I was engaged in discussions with a prospective client who showed great interest in our services and its potential value for his business. After a few weeks of great conversations, and to my unpleasant surprise, he shared with me his … Continue reading →

I was engaged in discussions with a prospective client who showed great interest in our services and its potential value for his business. After a few weeks of great conversations, and to my unpleasant surprise, he shared with me his decision to go in a different direction.

He said: “This may sound awkward but the reason I decided to go with another company is because I did not want to disappoint you!”

“Disappoint me?” I said. “How would that be?”

He continued: “When I reviewed your clients’ portfolio and observed the caliber of clients you work with and the kind of work you do, I knew that I could never measure up to that level of expectation and success!”

Although this could have been interpreted as a compliment, I was dumbfounded, feeling sorry for this person. Not only for the fact that I won’t be able to help him but for his lack of self-esteem and that he has significantly limited his own success and that of his clients.

Is it possible that you or your clients are limiting your potential growth and success because you think you are not good enough or you won’t measure up to someone’s else perceived level of success?

Go help someone, do something creative, impact their achievements, and allow your envelope to be pushed. That’s how you stop disappointing others and help create amazing futures.

Keep doing astounding work, your clients will be grateful, the world will notice and you will be further rewarded and fulfilled.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/i-did-not-want-to-disappoint-you/feed/0It May Be Time for Plan Bhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/it-may-be-time-for-plan-b/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/it-may-be-time-for-plan-b/#respondWed, 31 Aug 2016 19:35:18 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5416As the last days of summer and the long sunny days have started to dwindle, I’ve taken every opportunity to enjoy the evenings exploring Cleveland. As an east-sider, I have not crossed over the bridge to the west side as … Continue reading →

As the last days of summer and the long sunny days have started to dwindle, I’ve taken every opportunity to enjoy the evenings exploring Cleveland. As an east-sider, I have not crossed over the bridge to the west side as often as I should have to see the treasures that make up this great city.

As you may have noticed from my many posts, I am becoming more and more interested in honing my photography skills with newer lenses and techniques.

Last evening, after dining at an outdoor bistro nestled in the west side’s up and coming neighborhood, Gordon Square, we traveled to the lake to catch another gorgeous sunset by the water. As I waited for the sun to dip low, the skies covered over with grey and white clouds; nearly completely overcast.

Not to be beaten, I grabbed my tripod and walked over to the other side of the pier and focused my camera on the downtown Cleveland skyline. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, its reflection glimmering in the calm waters, framed by the Terminal Tower and KeyBank building completely overpowered my desire for that perfect sunset photo.

The result even astounded me — the perfect shot! (see above) I then realized had I not looked for another opportunity and quickly changed my plan, I would have missed this completely.

When crafting and executing your strategic and tactical direction or designing your web presence and marketing plan, you may face obstacles that require a quick detour or the selection of plan B.

Since opportunities are in great abundance around us, we need to increase our awareness by learning to better focus on the few, or even one, that present us with the potential for greater success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/it-may-be-time-for-plan-b/feed/0The Steep Price of Perfectionismhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-steep-price-of-perfectionism/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-steep-price-of-perfectionism/#respondWed, 24 Aug 2016 20:46:14 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5410It’s a claim I hear all the time in business: “I’m a perfectionist!” Many people seem to think perfectionism is a virtue, so they proudly admit their obsession with perfection. But the truth about perfectionism is far darker. More often … Continue reading →

It’s a claim I hear all the time in business: “I’m a perfectionist!” Many people seem to think perfectionism is a virtue, so they proudly admit their obsession with perfection. But the truth about perfectionism is far darker. More often than not, perfectionism in business is simply an excuse for procrastination. It even reflects self-doubt, and lack of belief in one’s own abilities.

In fact, perfectionism is the number one disguise for fear of rejection from others. People drag their feet to release a new product, claiming they want it to be “perfect” before they send it out into the world. Others write entire book manuscripts, but never publish them, stating that the book simply isn’t “good enough” yet. In reality, these aren’t examples of perfectionism. They’re examples of business progress being thwarted by fear of rejection.

This insidious form of perfectionism can paralyze whole companies and halt brilliant people from sharing their knowledge with the world. Here’s my take: If you’re in the business of writing code that controls nuclear facilities, perfectionism might be critical for accuracy. But in any other business, “perfect” should never be the goal.

Whether you provide consulting services or you deliver a product to market, I want you to forget about aiming for perfection. Instead, replace “perfectionism” with “future improvement.” Whatever it is you’re working on, focus on putting it out there, even if you know it could still be improved upon. Deliver today, improve tomorrow. Allow your target audience to give you valuable feedback, and then use it to improve upon your “imperfect” products and offerings down the road.

If you wait until you reach perfection, you’ll not only hurt yourself—you’ll also hurt your target audience. You’re effectively keeping useful knowledge and helpful products out of the hands of those who could benefit from them, all because you’re striving for something unattainable. Get 80% of the way there, and then release your talent for the world to see.

Simply put, perfectionism masks talent. It takes away from sharing your talent with the world. At one point in my own career, I admit that I was somewhat of a perfectionist. But I left perfectionism behind a long, long time ago. I don’t have to be perfect, and neither do you. We can be exceptional at what we do, without sabotaging ourselves in an attempt to seem perfect. After all, no one is.

Striving for perfectionism is a sure way to get nothing done. Instead, focus on getting 80% of the way there—and then release your products and offerings into the world. You’ll reap the rewards immediately.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-steep-price-of-perfectionism/feed/0Bringing Your Business Into Focushttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bringing-your-business-into-focus/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bringing-your-business-into-focus/#respondWed, 17 Aug 2016 22:57:04 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5402I had the privilege of attending my first political rally today on the west side of Cleveland. Cleveland is still exploding with the excitement of the Cavaliers’ championship win, as the host city for the Republican convention and today, the … Continue reading →

I had the privilege of attending my first political rally today on the west side of Cleveland. Cleveland is still exploding with the excitement of the Cavaliers’ championship win, as the host city for the Republican convention and today, the whirlwind stop of the Clinton campaign to deliver a message to Northeast Ohioans.

I packed my backpack full of my newest and most highly powered camera lenses to get a variety of shots and come as close to the action as possible. After a 3-hour wait, Hillary walked into the packed high school gymnasium to the cheers and blaring music that enveloped this crowd of supporters. I was standing about 12 feet back from the cordoned off staging area so I was able to catch the moment up close. And I did. She spoke on her popular Ohio topics as expected, and I continued to capture the overall spirit and the speech from different angles, including shots of the cheering crowd.

When it was over and the gymnasium emptied out, I moved way back up to the top of the bleachers to see her greeting the few lucky folks. While zooming into the crowd I found my wife pushing her way to the front and smiling while she struck a pose with Hillary herself in a selfie.

As business professionals, we often use a close-up lens to view the details and analyze the tactical aspects of our business. It is as critical that we also zoom out, step back, and see the bigger picture holistically to identify our strategy and the future we help create.

Often shifting your focus and zooming in an out will help you identify and paint your success. This week, why not look at your business through a different lens. The view may be surprisingly breathtaking.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bringing-your-business-into-focus/feed/0Where Do Ideas Come From?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-do-ideas-come-from-2/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-do-ideas-come-from-2/#respondWed, 10 Aug 2016 20:57:58 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5372I’ve been on a continual quest to develop unique and powerful ideas that profoundly help others. One of the most often asked questions is, where do such ideas come from? As I was reflected on this question it occurred to … Continue reading →

So in the spirit of improving upon what I already created and since I believe that a picture speaks a thousand words, I decided to communicate the message visually by my brand new and original infographic featured in this article. So what is an infographic? It is a collage of multiple visuals (diagrams, illustrations, cartoons) and text, logically organized, to tell a story and communicate a process.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-do-ideas-come-from-2/feed/0Smile and Say Cheesehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/smile-and-say-cheese/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/smile-and-say-cheese/#respondWed, 03 Aug 2016 20:04:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5369This week’s reflection point: When was the last time you updated the photos on your web site and for your marketing collateral? I find it funny when viewing peoples’ sites that the photos used are nearly vintage ones taken at … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: When was the last time you updated the photos on your web site and for your marketing collateral? I find it funny when viewing peoples’ sites that the photos used are nearly vintage ones taken at the time when the light bulb was invented. Okay, not really that old, but definitely not recent!

I am often asked what are the best ways to take new photos. I solicited the feedback of my creative design team and here are the key elements they recommend:

Colors

Clothes, Makeup and Accessories

Background

Frame Size

Angle

Poses

Look

For further detailed explanation of the above bullets click on our amazing visual photography guide we use as a tool with our clients and their photographers. Not only did this become a popular resource among our clients, it also reduced our need to communicate these concepts verbally while having the information right at their fingertips.

This week’s Tip: Update your photos. Look directly in the mirror and compare your hairstyle now and then, (guys, you know what I mean), and see how it looks side by side with an older photo. You may be amazed and now have the guide to make you look your best.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/smile-and-say-cheese/feed/0The Pacifier Effecthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-pacifier-effect/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-pacifier-effect/#respondWed, 27 Jul 2016 21:17:24 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5344This week’s reflection point: Have you noticed how most babies get immediate gratification when that pacifier is placed in their mouth? I believe this early habit contributes to shape one’s mindset, which continues into adulthood. Over the years, I’ve observed … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Have you noticed how most babies get immediate gratification when that pacifier is placed in their mouth? I believe this early habit contributes to shape one’s mindset, which continues into adulthood.

Over the years, I’ve observed that quite a few individuals look for what I call the “pacifier effect” or the silver bullet approach. Like babies demanding their pacifiers, adults too (some are clients of mine) search for immediate gratification and especially when things are not going well. Want more proof? All you have to do is walk into a Casino or notice the long lines at the lottery kiosks. These people are hoping for that instant prize that will immediately solve their problems, and fulfill their needs.

The danger is when I see individuals begin to doubt themselves and the value they bring to their clients because one of their prospects is not returning their calls or has just rejected a proposal.

Can you achieve immediate success? Of course you can. It requires patience, resilience and the trust in yourself. Then when success appears, rejoice and leverage it. Because when done right, it brings more success with it creating the ultimate “pacifier effect” — lifelong transformational success.

This week’s tip: Identify the one thing you will do this week that has the remarkable potential to transform your life and those you care about. Now go and start executing.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-pacifier-effect/feed/0Stop Copying Me!https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-copying-me/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-copying-me/#respondThu, 21 Jul 2016 01:13:32 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5338We are in the midst of the Republican National Convention this week in Cleveland and I couldn’t help avoid the intense media focus on Melania Trump’s speech and subsequent charges of plagiarism. She was accused of stealing verbatim from Michelle … Continue reading →

We are in the midst of the Republican National Convention this week in Cleveland and I couldn’t help avoid the intense media focus on Melania Trump’s speech and subsequent charges of plagiarism. She was accused of stealing verbatim from Michelle Obama’s convention speech from 2008.

I listened to Governor Chris Christie defending this during an interview this morning. He acknowledged the fact that he would be thrilled if only 7% of his own speeches are plagiarized.

Several years ago I wrote an article titled Proper Attribution Please, about my daughter Sharon’s biblical sermon that had been plagiarized word for word by her Rabbinical student classmate without proper attribution!

And, about a year ago I came across an article in a national magazine on the topic of Digital Empire Creation, which is trademarked by me. I was flabbergasted to discover it was written by a colleague who interviewed me for his blog during the prior year while mentioning that I had coined that phrase.

I recently came across this great line (and I am paraphrasing): “If you use someone’s intellectual property (IP) without attribution, that’s plagiarism. Yet, if you use many people’s IP without attribution, that’s research or curation.”

The more we pay attention to and consume others’ intellectual property, the more we may be influenced by them and allow the lines of demarcation to become foggy. The key is to learn to pay the proper attribution when deserved or make sure you are unique and original. Doing so will prevent you receiving the wrong media attention or nasty legal consequences.

This week’s tip: Before you publish your next piece make sure the content is original and completely belongs to you, or be certain to give credit where credit is due.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/stop-copying-me/feed/0From Inception to Fruitionhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-inception-to-fruition/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-inception-to-fruition/#respondWed, 13 Jul 2016 00:10:00 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5334Many of us struggle to bring products from that initial idea phase to actual completion. Projects are started and then quickly abandoned, never fulfilling their potential. And as a result, great opportunities for business growth are lost. Recently, the Chad … Continue reading →

Many of us struggle to bring products from that initial idea phase to actual completion. Projects are started and then quickly abandoned, never fulfilling their potential. And as a result, great opportunities for business growth are lost. Recently, the Chad Barr Group completed a project that had long been on the back-burner of my mind—and I want to share the important lessons I learned along the way.

First of all, I’m thrilled to announce the debut of three new books that together encapsulate my most valuable advice about web strategy. Long before these books were a reality, I knew they would help increase the reach of my intellectual property—something I’ve been doing with articles, podcasts, videos, and other publishing channels for years.

Once I committed to making this project a reality, it all came together rather quickly. But it took major effort and focus—on my part, and on the part of my team—to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Soon, the project took on a life of it’s own. Instead of starting with just one book and slowly working my way up to a series, I jumped right in with three books. It felt overwhelming at first, but I committed to doing it—and then I did it.

Today, I want to share what I learned from this amazing experience, to help you bring your own exciting projects from inception to fruition:

Start with a “brain dump.” Throw tons of ideas at the wall—even if none of them stick! Think about what your audience wants and needs, and then reach out to them to find out exactly what they’re looking for. Use this information as a basis for your “brain dump,” coming up with as many possible concepts as you can that make sense.

Brainstorm with people you trust. Once you have your ideas, it’s time to brainstorm—but only with people you trust. For me, that means my team at the Chad Barr Group, my mastermind group and my clients. Seek out the people you trust and brainstorm to decide which ideas are the most valuable for your audience.

Put together a great team. Nothing can get done without a great team of qualified people to help you along the way. Assemble the right group of professionals to help you bring your project to life. From strategy, to copy writing to design, to project management and marketing, make sure every role is properly filled.

Don’t start from scratch. Putting together the intellectual property for a brand new product can be incredibly difficult if you don’t build upon your pre-existing content. Use your creativity to repurpose and retarget old products, adding fresh content to make them new again.

Organize and schedule. Now it’s time to organize all your intellectual property in a way that makes sense—and put a project schedule in place. Scheduling is incredibly important to the success of any project.

Break it into smaller chunks. Don’t get overwhelmed! Break up your project into various small chunks instead of taking on everything at once.

Aim for flawless execution. You must completely commit to executing your project at the highest level possible for you and your team. Don’t let distractions and interruptions take you away from this worthwhile goal.

Debut it! Make your new product available to the world, so people can benefit from your knowledge.

Market it! Now the fun part starts. Increase your global reach with various marketing strategies so people can find out about your new offering and spread the word to others.

So there you have it: Lessons for bringing your exciting new projects from inception to fruition. I hope you enjoy my new books—and if you decide to order them through Amazon, just let me know and I’ll be happy to provide you with the digital e-book for free. All three of the books can be accessed here.

This week’s tip: It’s time to bring your lingering project to fruition! Commit to finally finishing that new product, and get it into the hands of your audience.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/from-inception-to-fruition/feed/0What’s Your Legacy?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-legacy/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-legacy/#respondWed, 06 Jul 2016 20:57:51 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5329This week’s reflection point: How will future generations remember you? This is a question many people are too afraid to ask themselves—and as a result, they avoid creating a lasting legacy for themselves and their businesses. I recently came across … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: How will future generations remember you? This is a question many people are too afraid to ask themselves—and as a result, they avoid creating a lasting legacy for themselves and their businesses.

I recently came across a quote that went something like this: “Are you going to be one of the many people who coast through life, their genius always sleeping within them?”

So why not awaken the genius inside you and share it with the world? After all, we have an obligation to share our knowledge, wisdom, and experience with future generations.

Quite a few of my clients tell me, “I’m not sure my content is good enough to share with others. I’m just not qualified enough.” Even some of my clients who have earned their PhDs make statements like this! It’s called the “imposter syndrome” when people feel they’re about to be “found out” as under-qualified or incompetent. And, in my experience, it’s one of the most widespread disguises of talent in the business world.

When it comes to leaving a lasting legacy for future generations, I urge you to defeat the “imposter syndrome” and recognize that your wisdom can truly benefit those around you. Next, you must commit to sharing your expertise with the world. Don’t distract yourself with things that won’t impact other people; focus on business ventures and activities that will leave a lasting impression on those who come into contact with them—whether today or decades from now.

While it may be challenging to create remarkable content and share your wisdom with the world, it’s imperative if you want to create a legacy for yourself and your business. I recently heard this amazing quote by Dr. Martin Seligman: “Resilience is twice as important as talent or IQ.” If you’re resilient—if you commit to consistently putting your ideas out there—then you’ve already fulfilled the most important aspect of creating a lasting legacy.

So, how can you start building your legacy for future generations? The key is to start small. A few words can become a powerful tweet; a collection of tweets can become a great blog post; a few blog posts can become an outstanding e-book; a collection of e-books can transform into a print book. It all starts with just a few words. Don’t be overwhelmed by the daunting task of building a legacy. Start small and watch as you organically grow your digital empire that shares your genius with the world.

This week’s tip: Start small today to build a lasting legacy for future generations. Conquer the “imposter syndrome” by committing to sharing your wisdom with the world.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-legacy/feed/0Creating Your Future With Strategic Questionshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-your-future-with-strategic-questions/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-your-future-with-strategic-questions/#respondWed, 29 Jun 2016 21:07:46 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5325This week’s reflection point: What are the best strategic questions you ask yourself and your clients in order to create a successful future? The right strategic questions hold the power to paint, craft, and navigate your remarkable future. While tactical … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: What are the best strategic questions you ask yourself and your clients in order to create a successful future?

The right strategic questions hold the power to paint, craft, and navigate your remarkable future. While tactical questions answer the how, who, and the when, strategic questions are the ones that answer the why, where, and what.

Here are my favorites:

Why do you exist and what is your purpose?

Where do you see your organization a year or two from now?

What will success look like?

What markets are you looking to enter?

What customers would you serve?

What is the remarkable value you provide?

What are the profound results you help create for your clients?

What is your intellectual property?

What innovations do you want to be known for?

What are your key offerings?

What are the factors that distinguish you from others who compete in your market space?

What achievements could you reach if there were no obstacles?

What is the legacy you are looking to create?

This week’s tip: Make sure you develop the right strategic questions that propel you and your clients into an amazing future.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-your-future-with-strategic-questions/feed/0Bring Out The Champion In Youhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bring-out-the-champion-in-you/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bring-out-the-champion-in-you/#respondWed, 22 Jun 2016 21:05:12 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5321This week’s reflection point: What a week it has been as we Clevelanders celebrate the great championship win of our team, the Cavaliers! This city has been transformed; new energy, excitement and pride. There are so many lessons to be … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: What a week it has been as we Clevelanders celebrate the great championship win of our team, the Cavaliers! This city has been transformed; new energy, excitement and pride.

There are so many lessons to be gleaned from this accomplishment and apply them from this remarkable comeback. Here is my list:

Dream big and execute your plan

Believe in yourself

Keep the progress moving forward one step at a time

Recognize the bigger cause of why you do what you do

Win some, lose some, but never give up striving for the goal

Identify and rely on your support system

Create a winning team that works seamlessly together

Go for the three point shots; they are always within reach

One or two technical fouls or setbacks keep you on your toes and in the game and strengthen your resolve to improve

This week’s tip: You never know what you are truly capable of achieving in business unless you get off the bench, get out on the court and make the big shots. Stretching beyond your perceived potential or comfort zone means you are closer to the winner’s spot than you ever imagined.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/bring-out-the-champion-in-you/feed/0What Are You Remarkable At?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-you-remarkable-at/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-you-remarkable-at/#respondWed, 15 Jun 2016 20:31:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5292This week’s reflection point: I am a strong believer in eliminating or minimizing our weaknesses but I especially believe in enhancing and building on our strengths. There is no better way to recognize our strengths than by simply examining what … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I am a strong believer in eliminating or minimizing our weaknesses but I especially believe in enhancing and building on our strengths. There is no better way to recognize our strengths than by simply examining what we are remarkable at.

As I was reflecting on the most profound attributes that have made our clients and us remarkable, here is what comes to mind:

Deliver strong value

Being responsive

Lead with innovative thinking

Uplift their spirits

Share provocative thoughts

Inspire others

Challenge them to think differently

Mobilize them to take action

Connect individuals and build communities

Increase their success

Impact their lives

Show them a better future and help them create theirs

So what are you remarkable at? I would love to hear your thoughts.

This week’s tip: Develop the list of your remarkable attributes and now go and make a difference.

This week’s reflection point: You’ve probably heard me say that powerful content creation is one of the key distinguishing attributes of great thought leaders and leading organizations. Whether you use programs such as Evernote or Trello to store your ideas, organizing the content is critical in order to achieve successful results. It all starts with the formulation of the proper categories.

Here are the categories I have created for our content development:

Topics: The list of all my ideas for the creation of future articles, podcasts, videos and such.

Stories: Interesting stories, vignettes and examples that I may use.

Metaphors: The collection of my favorite metaphors.

Chadisms: These are my unique quotes I have created over the years

Quotes: My favorite quotes of other fascinating thinkers that I may debunk or add value to.

Questions: This is a collection of questions I’ve been asked by clients, colleagues or individuals attending my presentations. When I publish content from this category, I email and thank the person who asked me the question and include the proper attribution.

Diagrams: The concept of the process I want to create in a diagram format.

Cartoons: This will include the headline as well as the scene I want my team to draw and design.

Products: Future offerings as products.

Although I use both the Evernote and Trello platforms to manage various functions of my organization, for the purpose of organizing my content ideas I find Evernote to be outstanding. When I think of an idea that deserves to be recorded for later use, I quickly enter it into the proper category or email it directly into Evernote.

This week’s tip: Time to start creating your own categories and populate and organize them for prolific content creation.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-your-content-categorized/feed/0Not All Prospective Clients Are Created Equalhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/not-all-prospective-clients-are-created-equal/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/not-all-prospective-clients-are-created-equal/#respondWed, 01 Jun 2016 21:01:49 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5263This week’s reflection point: I’ve been fortunate over the years, to work with many prospective clients and I confess that some are a pleasure to work with while others a bit challenging. Obviously, the ones that are great to work … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I’ve been fortunate over the years, to work with many prospective clients and I confess that some are a pleasure to work with while others a bit challenging. Obviously, the ones that are great to work with often become the most rewarding and outstanding clients.

There are several warning signs that a prospective client may be challenging such as: argumentative, inflexible, closed-minded, hard to get a hold of and disrespectful.

Let me share some of the attributes of great prospective clients.

They are:

Honest — which manifests itself by their willingness to openly answer your questions in a straightforward way and avoid ambiguity.

Accessible — making themselves available for meetings and discussions. They rarely cancel or reschedule the meetings and are respectful of your time.

Open-minded — solicit your expert advice to improve their lives and businesses. They are open to your pushbacks and to being challenged.

This week’s tip: When you recognize the warning signs, I urge you to quickly disengage and acknowledge that this is not a good fit. Yet, when you recognize the attributes of great prospective clients, most will then become your long-term clients, which will reward you both with years of mutual value, growth and success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/not-all-prospective-clients-are-created-equal/feed/0Are You Caught in the Web?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-caught-in-the-web/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-caught-in-the-web/#respondWed, 25 May 2016 19:00:45 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5260This week’s reflection point: We all know that the Internet is the world’s best tool—right at our fingertips—to transform our lives and improve our businesses. But the web is also the world’s biggest distraction, and one of the worst enemies … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: We all know that the Internet is the world’s best tool—right at our fingertips—to transform our lives and improve our businesses. But the web is also the world’s biggest distraction, and one of the worst enemies of productivity. Do you leverage the web to its full potential? Or are you one of the scores of people “caught” in the web, mostly distracted by it rather than empowered by it?

If you think of yourself as a fly for a moment, the metaphor is incredibly apt: The worst thing that can ever happen to a fly is to get caught in a spider’s web. It’s all over at that point—the fly is done. The same is true of getting caught in the web of Internet distraction. Hypnotized by the mindless pull of surfing the web for entertaining memes on Facebook, Twitter, and your favorite blogs, you quickly become stuck. Soon, you have ADD to the highest power. You can waste weeks of your time aimlessly surfing the web—the hours add up like you wouldn’t believe!

So how can you avoid becoming an online couch potato, and instead use the web in positive, productive, and empowering ways for your business?

In simple terms, you need to take control of your life. Face the reality that the web has a “dark side”—the side that compels you to compulsively check social media, at all hours of the day—and admit that you need to actively resist its pull. You must set aside time each day dedicated to creating and delivering value to your customers. That time should be sacred to you. The dark side of the web shouldn’t be allowed near it.

Once you set these parameters, then you can leverage the power of the Internet to grow yourself and your business. Here are three key ways to jumpstart your new productive relationship with the web:

Set time limits for web use. The first step to solving any problem is first recognizing the problem. If you know that you tend to get sucked into the web vortex at certain times of the day, then you must create specific time limits to help you avoid it. You can allot yourself a pocket of time each day—after the workday ends, or during lunch—when you can quickly check social media or keep tabs on your favorite bloggers. But besides that, commit to only using the web for business reasons, seeking out new ways to improve your company or your services online.

Focus exclusively on goals. When you sit down at your computer in the morning, you should be able to answer one question: What’s my goal in going online right now? If you can’t answer that question, then you’ll find yourself getting stuck in the web of distraction. The key is to focus exclusively on specific goals while you’re online, so you can maximize your time spend on the web and stay attuned to the essence of what you’re trying to accomplish that day.

Create digital accountability. Online calendars are an incredible resource for leveraging the web and avoiding distraction. Respect your calendar and hold yourself accountable to what it says. Your calendar should be a guiding light for you, every day. Instead of writing vague reminders for appointments or meetings, write specific, doable goals that you are committed to accomplishing within a certain span of time. Instead of writing “Work on book today,” try “Write the first 2 chapters of my book before lunchtime today.” By wording your tasks in powerful ways, you are more likely to gold yourself accountable to your digital calendar and avoid distraction online.

How can you improve the way you interact with the web? Get started now—and watch your productivity soar.

This week’s tip: Don’t get caught in the online web of distractions and mindless entertainment. Instead, leverage the web of business tools and opportunities that can transform your business and refocus your productivity.

This week’s reflection point: Far too many people have a tremendous amount of knowledge, but fail to share it with the world. Don’t be one of them! It’s incredibly important to “digitize” your intellectual property, manifesting your ideas in podcasts, articles, blogs, videos, e-books, newsletters, and other online media. If you don’t showcase your unique wisdom in this way, it’s a disservice to yourself, to your business, and to those around you.

In fact, failing to digitize your genius is a disserve to the entire world. Consider all the visionaries and thought leaders who came before you. From Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison to Salvador Dali and Leonardo da Vinci, they all made the decision to share their genius with the world. What if, instead, they had shut off their ideas from those around them, and never showcased their amazing intellectual property?

You are a walking gold mine of untapped knowledge. Everything you’ve learned over the years is stuck in your mind—you just need to pull it out, so the world can benefit from it. Today, it’s easier than ever to showcase your ideas by digitizing them. If you’re not actively pulling the genius out of yourself, you need to start now.

Here are four key ways to begin the process:

Pay attention to your clients’ conversations. One of the best ways to pull genius from yourself is to listen to your clients. What are your clients talking about? What adversity do they face? What challenges have them overcome? What successes have they achieved? Listen carefully to these topics, and then write articles and blogs, make videos, and create podcasts that address those subjects. Share ideas for how your clients can resolve common problems, reach common goals, and avoid common pitfalls. Once you do, you’ll finally be putting your wisdom out there for others to benefit from.

Watch what’s going on in the world. Paying attention to social media, newspapers, magazines, and other news platforms is an amazing way to jumpstart your creation of digitized intellectual property. Respond to the hottest topics of the day, and inject your expertise into the conversation. Share your ideas and knowledge in a provocative way, challenging what others are saying about certain topics. Showcase your unique perspective on current events that relate to your business and your clients’ lives.

Schedule quiet time to create content. We all have a space where we feel most creative. Whatever that is for you, schedule time there to clear your head, and think about how your can use your unique ideas to help your organization and those around you. You’ll be able to invent new concepts and decide how to digitize them when you’re in a space dedicated to thinking, without any distractions.

Fiercely commit to execution. Digitizing your intellectual property sounds great hypothetically—but you have to actually commit to getting it done. Far too many people think about showcasing their expertise online, but never do it. So mark your calendar with specific due-dates for your content creation, and fiercely commit to executing this worthwhile project. Get it done!

My last bit of advice is to surround yourself with great books, and read often. Don’t limit your reading to present-day authors. Be sure to read books by authors of the past, who are no longer alive, but still share incredible insights with us today. What you read can have a huge influence on your intellectual property. As the old saying goes, “Show me your library, and I’ll show you who you are.”

We all have a responsibility to share our knowledge with the world. Digitize your genius and establish a legacy to leave behind for generations to come. If you’re already doing it—what can be done to raise the bar? And if you’re not—start today!

This week’s tip: It’s time to start digitizing your intellectual property. Establish a legacy of your ideas, benefit those around you, and improve your business, all at once.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/digitizing-your-genius-showcase-your-intellectual-property/feed/0Lesson Learned From My Momhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lesson-learned-from-my-mom/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lesson-learned-from-my-mom/#respondWed, 11 May 2016 03:35:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5145This week’s reflection point: I lost my Mom 14 years ago and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her. As we just celebrated Mother’s day I reflected on some of … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I lost my Mom 14 years ago and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her and miss her. As we just celebrated Mother’s day I reflected on some of the greatest lessons I learned from her.

Risk taker – She stood in lines at the age of 7 in Poland waiting to get bread for her family and then fled on foot into the forest to escape holocaust.

Thinking Big – Shortly after moving to Israel and being trained as a nurse, she was given the noble task of helping to set up the first hospital in the city of Tzfat , my birth place.

The Power of Communities – She was masterful in mobilizing people to take action whether training the nursing community, helping new immigrants or volunteering her time for great causes.

Continued Education – She was always looking for ways to improve her knowledge and talents. She learned to speak 6 languages, played piano, joined a choir and attended various classes.

Accountability – She was known to hold herself and those around her to the highest level of accountability.

Entrepreneurship – Throughout her life she was devoted to helping her new country, Israel, grow and develop.

Love of Family – She was an amazing woman, devoted to her family, her children and grandchildren.

This week’s tip: Appreciate family and never take them for granted. Talk to them, your older generation, and learn their stories, their life’s challenges, and turn those jewels of knowledge into action.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/lesson-learned-from-my-mom/feed/0Who Are You? Bring Out the Human Side on Your Sitehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/who-are-you-bring-out-the-human-side-on-your-site/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/who-are-you-bring-out-the-human-side-on-your-site/#respondWed, 04 May 2016 20:18:57 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5120This week’s reflection point: Many organizations have sterile websites that don’t really show who they are. When there’s no human interface on your site, customers can’t see the unique personality of your team. People don’t like to interact with machines; … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Many organizations have sterile websites that don’t really show who they are. When there’s no human interface on your site, customers can’t see the unique personality of your team. People don’t like to interact with machines; they want to interact with humans.

A woman once came up to me after I gave a speech at a conference. She had seen me at the same conference a few years before. “Chad,” she said, “I noticed you didn’t include any pictures of your kids and grandkids this year. I wish you had!” I was surprised—I told her I wasn’t sure the audience was interested in my personal life. “Are you kidding?” she laughed. “We love that stuff!”

She was absolutely right. Everyone loves to hear personal stories, learn about major life events, and get to know the real person behind the business persona. Here are four key ways to improve the human interface on your site:

Feature the unique voices of your team members. Your team is the heart and soul of your organization. Feature their voices on your site in creative ways. Include details about their personal lives in their written bios. You can also post video interviews of your team members to really bring them to life for your site visitors. Use pictures, video, text, and audio to share your team members’ work interests, family life, commitment to customers, and major life events.

Share what it’s like to work at your organization. Encourage your team members to blog, tweet, and post other social media updates about work. Foster a “free speech” culture at your organization. Your customers want to get to know your team. By sharing real-life stories about your organization, your team can connect with customers on a deeper level right away. Who better than your team members to share the experience of working on a new product, developing a service, or launching a new campaign?

Let your clients speak for themselves. Instead of sharing written testimonials from clients, why not let your clients say it directly? Post text and audio interviews with clients, create video interviews with them, and invite them to write guest posts on your blog. By letting your customers speak for themselves, you can feature case studies straight from the source.

Invite your partners to tell their stories. Invite your partner organizations to share their experiences on your site. Their stories about long-term loyalty and commitment can go a long way to humanize your company. How have your partners helped you in challenging times, and vice versa? Customers will love to hear anecdotes that demonstrate strong relationships between real people at your organization.

What are you doing through the human interface to help your team members, your partners, and your clients grow?

This week’s tip: Bring out the human side! Discover the secret sauce to creating an engaging site that brings your organization to life for your customers.

This week’s reflection point: Have you ever taken advice from someone—only to realize later that it actually hurt your success, instead of helped you? If so, you’re not alone. Bad advice is everywhere. And it’s crucial that you avoid taking it.

Not long ago, I overheard a speaker give the following advice to his audience: Forget about marketing, and just publish. This was a popular speaker who attracted a large crowd; I couldn’t believe the advice he gave. Marketing is the single most important part of any business. But that speaker’s audience now thinks marketing is secondary.

How many other speakers, gurus, and industry experts have given similar bad advice? Too many to count. (Just a few years ago, a famous person told his followers that they shouldn’t read books! It doesn’t get much worse than that.)

So how can you learn to recognize bad advice, and make sure you take advice that helps you? Here are the three best ways:

Make sure advice has a great track record. When a successful person gives you advice, it can be tempting to take it right away. But just because advice works for one person, doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. I’ve seen many successful individuals give advice that ultimately backfires for other people. That’s why you need to make sure advice has created repeatable success before you take it. If you know an idea has a great track record of helping people, then consider it. But if just one person has seen success, the idea might not actually work.

Make sure advice applies to you. Advice is subjective. I know that what’s successful for me, might not necessarily be successful for someone else. Make sure you always filter the advice you hear from others. Ask yourself, “Does this advice apply to my type of business? Will it be successful for me, in particular?” Also keep in mind that different advice works in some markets, but not others. For example, an idea that’s successful in the consumer market might be a disaster in the corporate market, and vice versa.

Trust your intuition and be willing to fail. The importance of trusting your intuition can’t be overstated. If you feel like a piece of advice is off-base, or that it won’t work for you, then trust yourself. You know your business better than anyone else. You should never do something just because someone else tells you to. On the other hand, if you decide to take advice, never do so half-heartedly. Be willing to fail! That’s the only way to fully implement ideas that could ultimately help you create more success. Try your best, and make adjustments if things don’t go as planned.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beware-you-might-be-getting-bad-advice/feed/0Creating Amazing Contenthttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-amazing-content/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/creating-amazing-content/#respondWed, 20 Apr 2016 22:01:13 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5113This week’s reflection point: One of my favorite exercises that I conduct with my clients or during my speaking presentations is the creation of amazing content. I ask them the following: What is one of the key challenges your clients … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: One of my favorite exercises that I conduct with my clients or during my speaking presentations is the creation of amazing content. I ask them the following:

What is one of the key challenges your clients are facing?

What are three powerful insights you could share with them to overcome this challenge?

What is then the action they could take to transform their success or what provocative question could you ask to mobilize them to next action?

I then give them about five minutes to create the content and ask them to share their creation. The results are often astonishing. The key realization for most is that it should not take much time to create a powerful piece of content.

The other remarkable realization is that each of their insights could become a subsequent, unique and separate piece of content.

Here is my own example that demonstrates this formula: If I were to create a short video demonstrating this formula and assuming that one of the challenges my clients face is how to create success on the web, here is the piece I would create:

“I am often asked how to best achieve success on the web?

After years of working with thousands of clients I’ve come to realize that it actually boils down to your web presence, which includes these three key factors:

Your Strategy – Which articulates the way you would paint success, identifying who are your buyers and what are their preferences, defining and creating your remarkable offerings that would make you irresistible and developing your marketing blueprint.

Your Content – Which is the manifestation of your outstanding intellectual property that distinguishes you from others.

This week’s reflection point: One of the biggest potential impacts on your business growth is the continued expansion and leverage of your list. The list is the file containing the information about your clients, prospective clients, colleagues, partners and anyone interested in your company.

Here are some insights and examples of various ways to grow your list:

Publishing: Create content and offerings in a variety of formats and invite your audience to subscribe and participate. An example would be a free eBook they would receive.

Speaking: Deliver powerful value during your presentations, inspire your audience to implement and take action and invite them to join you online. An example would be 30 days access to your private group.

Collaborations: Approach others and create content and offerings and market to your audience and theirs. An example would be a position paper you write with your colleague.

Join Ventures: This is similar to collaborations but is more of a partnership you create with others for the purpose of marketing a product or a service. An example would be a workshop you deliver with another partner.

Viral WOM: Develop content and offerings that are worthy of being shared by others and generate a word-of-mouth effect. This will create an exponential exposure of your content and growth of your list. An example would be a powerful article you wrote that was published elsewhere and picked up and shared by many.

Surveys: Establish dynamic surveys that allow the visitors to assess themselves while encouraging them to register for more insights.

Communities: Participate in various communities and consider creating one surrounding your brand. An example would be you sharing an eBook to attract others to you.

Ads: Investing in ads would drive better-qualified traffic to your targeted pages. An example would be a Facebook or Google ad targeted to a page on your site that provides access to your insightful videos.

Contests: Create a variety of contests to attract others to participate. An example would be the creation of a 30 days revenue generation challenge and inviting others to share their insights.

This week’s reflection point: Ever wonder what are the attributes of great content and how to effectively position such on your site and blog?

I suggest that your content should be:

Practical

Provocative

Insightful

Interesting

Entertaining

Humorous

Inspiring

Counterintuitive

Offered in various media formats

Easy to share

Succinct

Irresistible to consume and go viral

Enticing to take action

Although these attributes are important for the creation of powerful content, visual interest is another key attribute of great content. Unfortunately, too many sites I visit are too text heavy with little or no such visual interest.

I therefore highly recommend that your content be contextually colorful. Visitors are attracted to images more than text and it has been proven that images are much more memorable than text. Just take a look at: The Wall Street Journal, CNN, or HBR, as it is obvious how they leverage colorful and interesting images to attract readers to their content.

This week’s tip: Use images, photos, diagrams, infographics, cartoons, and videos to add interest to your content. These will help make it contextually colorful and consequently draw attention and make you irresistible.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/how-contextually-colorful-is-your-content/feed/0Where Are You Going?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going/#respondWed, 30 Mar 2016 20:23:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5101This week’s reflection point: To successfully market your business you need to review the positioning of your business. This hot topic is one that I am often asked to talk about. To help you assess the positioning of your company … Continue reading →

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/where-are-you-going/feed/0Do You Have a Glossy Brochure?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-a-glossy-brochure/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/do-you-have-a-glossy-brochure/#respondWed, 23 Mar 2016 20:54:42 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5091This week’s reflection point: Years ago, after submitting a proposal to one of our prospective clients, he notified me that they had elected to go with one of our competitors. I followed up several months later and discovered that they … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Years ago, after submitting a proposal to one of our prospective clients, he notified me that they had elected to go with one of our competitors. I followed up several months later and discovered that they had a dreadful experience, that opened the door for us to engage in conversations again.

He did eventually become a client of ours and in a subsequent conversation I asked him what was the reason he originally selected our competitor. “Please don’t think less of me but it was the glossy brochure your competitor had!”

If a glossy brochure was indeed a selling factor, I immediately put my team on it, designed our new fancy brochure and printed 1,000 of them ready to send out and impress prospective clients. Years later, when we closed our physical office and became 100% virtual, we cleaned out our space and discarded boxes upon boxes of our glossy brochures, 970 of them, to be exact!

Lessons learned:

Focus on distinguishing your significant value in the mind of your buyers so their decision is not based on bright shiny objects such as glossy brochures.

Avoid the urge to copy your competitors and challenge yourself to Raise The Barr®

Stay in touch with your prospective buyers even when they elect to go with your competitors. You’d be pleasantly surprised how often they realize that they’ve made a mistake and they need you!

So what is our latest equivalent of the glossy brochure or the new shiny object? It’s our new digital Innovation Magazine, whose next issue is scheduled to be released shortly.

Stay Tuned!

This week’s tip: What do you provide that is the equivalent of a glossy brochure that conveys value, excellence and thought leadership?

This week’s reflection point: Today’s newsletter comes to you from Los Angeles, where I’m presenting at Alan Weiss’s Million Dollar Consulting® Convention. Surrounded by thought leaders, I’ve spent the morning exchanging ideas with my fellow presenters. I just had breakfast with my good friend Bruce Turkel, a branding expert, who shared with me an incredibly intriguing concept: Crafting and presenting your keynote presentation by leveraging mind maps.

While most of us take notes or write lists, Bruce often draws a visual mind map to guide presentations, plan speeches, and visualize work. With just a glance at a picture, he knows what he needs to do or say. Bruce even showed me the mind map he created for the presentation he’s giving tomorrow at the convention. It was a vivid, pictorial representation of his entire speech.

Bruce’s mind map reminds me of my own recommendations to our clients and the importance of leveraging visual communication to business success. I’ve always been a firm believer in the power of visuals—on my website, it even says, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a website is worth a million.” Visuals can often communicate a message much more powerfully and eloquently than words ever could.

That’s why so many people post beautiful images to accompany their blogs, or use stunning graphic design to grab more attention. It simply works. In fact, humans have a remarkable ability to remember pictures. Research shows that we remember visual images much easier and better than words.

Having a visual image of your business success—your very own mind map—is vital to your success. When you travel to a foreign country, you don’t just hop on a plane and go. First, you create an itinerary and plan out all the top sights you want to see. In the same way, you should literally draw out your plan for business success. Don’t just write vague goals; illustrate them in full color and bring them to life.

Your visualizations will need to be organic, changing as you constantly reinvent yourself throughout your career. But start today with what’s in front of you right now. What will lead you toward your ultimate success in business? Create a mind map of success to show you how to get there, and where you want to go.

With permission from Bruce, here’s the inspiring mind map for his presentation tomorrow:

This week’s tip: Start mind-mapping your success today, creating a visual plan not just for this quarter or this year, but for your entire business journey. What’s in front of you right now that can lead to your ultimate success? Map it out and watch the inspiration grow.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/start-mind-mapping-your-business-success/feed/0What’s Your Content Schedule?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-content-schedule/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-content-schedule/#respondWed, 09 Mar 2016 22:18:19 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5078This week’s reflection point: Several months ago we started working on an exciting project with one of our clients, Rich Houcek, President of Soar with Eagles. Shortly after we began our collaboration on the content and products creation, Rick said … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Several months ago we started working on an exciting project with one of our clients, Rich Houcek, President of Soar with Eagles. Shortly after we began our collaboration on the content and products creation, Rick said to me, “I want to raise the bar and start creating a new product each month!”

Although I have many clients creating large amounts of outstanding content, this was the first time one of them wanted to create one product each month. Several months later I am now happy to report that we have achieved our goal and have launched this great site that contains 10 incredible success products and there are more to come.

We would not have been able to accomplish this bold goal without a content creation schedule and the proper accountability. We pulled out our calendars, identified the content and products we wanted to create, and scheduled them.

Any journey, no matter how bold it is, starts with a first step.

Why not start yours today?

This week’s tip: Identify your desired content and products; pull out your calendar and schedule them. The rewards are incredible.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-content-schedule/feed/0The Business Silent Killerhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-business-silent-killer/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-business-silent-killer/#respondWed, 02 Mar 2016 17:08:52 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5075This Week’s reflection point: Last year, prior to the launch of our new The Chad Barr Group web presence, a colleague shared with me that although he loves the work our company does for our clients, he would not do … Continue reading →

This Week’s reflection point: Last year, prior to the launch of our new The Chad Barr Group web presence, a colleague shared with me that although he loves the work our company does for our clients, he would not do business with me based on the look of my current web presence. I realized that by immersing ourselves into servicing our clients I had neglected my own web presence. Vowing to not hear that comment again, I immediately engaged my team and made the Chad Barr Group presence one of my highest priorities, which we proudly launched a few months later.

When it comes to health and fitness, hypertension or high blood pressure are referred to as a the “silent killers” and if left untreated they often lead to serious diseases or even death. My intent is not to bring unnecessary fear but to call your attention to another possible phenomenon which I call “The Silent Business Killer!”

Let me ask you:

What is the initial reaction of visitors to your site? Are they impressed or ready to close the browser never to be seen again?

Does your site convey a world-class image or that of an amateur?

Does it create interest and entice your visitors to stay a bit longer or is it boring and turning them away?

Does your content convey the highest credibility and challenge your visitors to think differently or does it come across as commodity and commonplace?

Are visitors contacting you to inquire about getting your help or has your site gone silent?

Are visitors purchasing your products and services or those of your competitors?

If you answer favorably to all or most of the questions above and if your web presence is a key factor to the continued growth of your business and thought leadership, congratulations! You are in great shape. If, on the other hand, you answer most of these questions unfavorably, I am here to suggest that your web presence may be the silent killer of your business. Not only are you losing potential buyers while greatly limiting your success, your web presence may actually be the root cause of this problem.

This week’s tip: Just as a check up with your doctor can detect unnoticeable or hidden problems, a comprehensive investigation of your present strategy, site and content can also reveal what is hurting and in need of attention. Don’t let your poor web presence become your silent business killer. You have the control to change both.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-business-silent-killer/feed/0Is Everthing OK With You?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-everthing-ok-with-you/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-everthing-ok-with-you/#respondWed, 24 Feb 2016 20:08:13 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5070This week’s reflection point: A client of mine used to be a prolific publisher of great content, which she shared through a variety of media platforms with her audience. Probably due to a significant increase in her business she stopped … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: A client of mine used to be a prolific publisher of great content, which she shared through a variety of media platforms with her audience. Probably due to a significant increase in her business she stopped sending out her newsletters.

I got a call from another client who was concerned that something has happened to the client who had stopped sending out the newsletters. I indicated that to the best of my knowledge she is doing great. He replied: “I thought something happened to her since she stopped sending out her newsletters!”

I then realized how important consistency is in the delivery of our messages and why it is critical we deliver it on time and as promised.

I don’t have an issue abandoning one method of content delivery or another. The key is to properly communicate why we’ve done so or even better yet, announce the replacement of a new and improved version of our content.

When we send out valuable content on a regular basis, we get our audience to start expecting it to show up consistently in their inbox. That dependency is a great thing and disrupting it creates havoc in the minds of our audience and their perceived perception of us.

Absence does not make the heart grow fonder but rather makes them forget, or even worse, it makes them question whether you are ok!

This week’s tip: When the pressure of water is applied consistently, overtime it has the power to change the shape of a rock. When your content is delivered consistently, it too has the power to greatly impact your audience.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/is-everthing-ok-with-you/feed/0The Almost Credible Webhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-almost-credible-web/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-almost-credible-web/#respondWed, 17 Feb 2016 22:06:54 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5065This week’s refection point: The amount of fraud that takes place on the web is mindboggling. Here are a few examples: Receiving phishing emails from various financial institutions that look authentic and lure the recipient to click and enter their … Continue reading →

This week’s refection point: The amount of fraud that takes place on the web is mindboggling. Here are a few examples: Receiving phishing emails from various financial institutions that look authentic and lure the recipient to click and enter their confidential information, only to find out that their identity has been compromised or stolen. Spam emails that promise amazing investment opportunities that guarantee your future wealth or the opposite, the ones looking to place their inheritance of millions with you! Soliciting donations through web sites that look credible and appear to be devoted to great causes such as curing disease or eradicating world hunger.

What puzzles me is that since such stories are commonly shared in the media, our blogs, or newsletters, and people’s awareness is on the increase, how is it that more and more are still falling prey to such devious attempts?

My answer is that they all seem credible and the web often creates a false sense of credibility and security.

Using the same analogy made me think about the credibility we convey through our own web sites, content and various other offerings.

Although I am sure you consider yourself honest, credible, authentic and value-driven, I would also suggest that the way you position yourself visually and contextually has a huge impact on the way you are being perceived and the credibility you present.

This Week’s Tip: Critically assess everything you put out on the web to convey the highest credibility, honesty and trust.

This week’s reflection point: I love getting your feedback after sending out our weekly newsletters or brand new bimonthly digital magazine; not only is it great to receive but it especially helps me calibrate my thinking, focus and ideas for future content creation.

I used to reply to such feedback with a simple “thank you for your note and I greatly appreciate it.” Yet in the past year I decided to also add this question: “May I ask you what resonated with you most about my article?” I found this simple yet effective question to be a great starter to enriching and rewarding conversations.

I see a great importance and value in provoking our clients to think differently and to challenge them with new ideas to take bold actions towards the fulfillment of their goals and the achievement of their success.

Using the opportunities to continue our conversations and engage our clients in such discussions gives us the chance to add value and impact to their future.

I look forward to continue receiving your comments and feedback.

This week’s tip: How can you use the feedback you receive from your audience to trigger a conversation that will help increase business and relationships?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-resonated-with-you-most/feed/0Amazing Words, Remarkable Outcomehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/amazing-words-remarkable-outcome/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/amazing-words-remarkable-outcome/#respondWed, 03 Feb 2016 21:18:03 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5057Reflection Point: What would you say is one of the key differences between a mundane experience and a memorable one? I believe that words have the awesome power to create such a distinction. There is a video on YouTube showcasing … Continue reading →

Reflection Point: What would you say is one of the key differences between a mundane experience and a memorable one? I believe that words have the awesome power to create such a distinction.

There is a video on YouTube showcasing the late Steve Jobs during one of Apple’s product announcement keynotes. The typical three-hour video was reduced to less than two minutes to demonstrate the powerful adjectives Jobs and his team used to describe their revolutionary products.

Enthusiasm is critical to bring any presentation to life, and I bet you would agree with me that these adjectives do wonders to accentuate the words, bring life and energy to the products, influence us logically and emotionally and make us desire these products.

There must be an inherent influence in my own use of such words since I’ve been known to use them often when describing my own offerings.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/amazing-words-remarkable-outcome/feed/0Investing in your Smartshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/investing-in-your-smarts/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/investing-in-your-smarts/#respondWed, 27 Jan 2016 22:44:21 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5051Reflection Point: Advancing technologies have been accelerated to the point that artificial intelligence is impacting and disrupting every imaginable area such as: 3D printing, human cloning, genetics, smart appliances, space and medical research and many more. I previously discussed this … Continue reading →

Reflection Point: Advancing technologies have been accelerated to the point that artificial intelligence is impacting and disrupting every imaginable area such as: 3D printing, human cloning, genetics, smart appliances, space and medical research and many more.

Artificial intelligence has advanced to the point that I believe is nearing the capability to exceed human intelligence. When this happens it will be a profound moment in our existence. And that is an understatement.

Imagine a day when machines are able to make decisions that override our control and actions.

This week’s tip: Before we all panic, I suggest you continue to invest in your smarts and stay on top of your game.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/investing-in-your-smarts/feed/0What would life be like if…?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-would-life-be-like-if/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-would-life-be-like-if/#respondWed, 20 Jan 2016 22:31:08 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5043Reflection point: I was 21 and had just completed my three years of compulsory military service in Israel, when one of my friends shared a newspaper ad with me looking for people of my profile to travel to the US … Continue reading →

Reflection point: I was 21 and had just completed my three years of compulsory military service in Israel, when one of my friends shared a newspaper ad with me looking for people of my profile to travel to the US and bring the Israeli culture to summer camps. I ended at this beautiful place by the lake called Cleveland, Ohio, where I met my future wife to be, Laurel and where we raised our family.

Fast-forward a couple of years and I am attending the local college, studying music, when I decided to take a computer programing course. I completely fell in love with computers and programming and decided to major in computer science since I felt it was the best of combining art and science. This was the inception of creating my successful software company just a few years later.

15 years ago, while running my software company, one of our clients approached me and asked if we can help his organization get to the Internet. Realizing the opportunity, I had several of our team members learn how to create web sites and ecommerce solutions. This led to the complete shift of focus of my company from being developers of software solutions to becoming an Internet strategic development company.

What would life be like if I did not audition for the summer camp job? Or take my first computer programming class? Or jump on the opportunity to start creating and implementing Internet strategies and solutions?

I can’t even imagine.

This week’s tip: Life presents us with amazing gifts and opportunities. The key is to learn to pay attention to the signals, take risks and view the challenges we face along the way as the signs that we are on the right track.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-would-life-be-like-if/feed/013 Marketing Insights For Great Successhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-great-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-great-success/#respondWed, 13 Jan 2016 21:26:36 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5040Reflection Point: I’ve been fortunate to work with and study some of the most effective global marketers and identify what they do to achieve success. Many of these ideas are discussed with our clients and implemented to help them achieve … Continue reading →

Reflection Point: I’ve been fortunate to work with and study some of the most effective global marketers and identify what they do to achieve success. Many of these ideas are discussed with our clients and implemented to help them achieve greater results. Here are some of these ideas:

Have a clear definition of the buyers you are trying to attract.

Create remarkable content that resolves their challenges and helps transform their success.

Promote your products and services.

Offer memberships to exclusive content and access to you.

Become a contributor on various publishing platforms and genuinely direct traffic to your site and offers.

Create effective opt-in pages (also called squeeze or lead magnet pages) that offer free value in return for the visitor’s name and email address.

Interview interesting thinkers and influencers, promote on your site and various channels and suggest they do the same on their sites and broadcasting channels.

Collaborate with your clients, peers, partners, and competitors by the creation of new content, offerings and contests.

Curate content and ideas by analyzing and organizing others’ and sharing the most helpful with your audience preferably by adding your input and expertise.

Offer webinars that convert to sale.

Share your knowledge and wisdom through podcasts and videos and invite your audience to engage with you to help them.

Don’t just create your content but make sure to market and leverage it as well.

Build your list, which is most critical aspect of consistently growing your business.

To turn these ideas into success requires:

Strong Mindset

Effective Plan

Commitment to execution

This week’s tip: If any of these ideas resonate with you or intrigue you, email or call me. I’d be glad to discuss how to implement them in your business and start your year with a bang!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-marketing-insights-for-great-success/feed/0What’s Your Next Masterpiece?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-masterpiece/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-masterpiece/#respondWed, 06 Jan 2016 21:26:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5037Reflection point: Yesterday, we launched our new Innovation bimonthly digital magazine and the feedback and comments have been absolutely amazing. One of the questions I received was regarding the objectives of this magazine. Here are the reasons why we decided … Continue reading →

Reflection point: Yesterday, we launched our new Innovation bimonthly digital magazine and the feedback and comments have been absolutely amazing. One of the questions I received was regarding the objectives of this magazine.

Here are the reasons why we decided to create this magazine and its objectives:

Bring fresh ideas and strategies to stimulate our clients’ minds and help them accelerate their business growth and success.

Pull the rest of our team into the creation.

Push the envelope of creativity, innovation and powerful content.

Create a WOW looking piece that is worthy of sharing and spreading by others.

Showcase various case studies featuring our clients to help promote their business and success.

Have provocative conversations with various interesting thinkers and thought leaders I interact with and admire.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-next-masterpiece/feed/0Innovation Magazinehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/innovation-magazine-issue-1/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/innovation-magazine-issue-1/#respondTue, 05 Jan 2016 19:38:15 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=5012I am excited to share with you the first issue of our Innovation Magazine. Bringing you the best of Internet marketing, business insights, and content creation strategies to help you increase and accelerate your success. I am also delighted to … Continue reading →

I am excited to share with you the first issue of our Innovation Magazine. Bringing you the best of Internet marketing, business insights, and content creation strategies to help you increase and accelerate your success.

I am also delighted to include my conversation with Dan Pink, which I know you will greatly enjoy.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/innovation-magazine-issue-1/feed/0The Year at a Glancehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-at-a-glance/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-at-a-glance/#respondWed, 30 Dec 2015 22:35:31 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4958One of my favorite and most successful rituals is to review my accomplishments against my goals each day, week, month and year so I may better calibrate and adjust. Since we are about to close the year and in the … Continue reading →

One of my favorite and most successful rituals is to review my accomplishments against my goals each day, week, month and year so I may better calibrate and adjust. Since we are about to close the year and in the spirit of sharing, accountability and a little bragging, here are the highlights of a few of our accomplishments:

This weekly newsletter, Raising The Barr®, represents issue number 156, which is the manifestation of 3 years of content publishing, which has generated increased awareness, new connections, increased thought leadership and business.

Traveled the world, met some amazing people, and attended some outstanding growth developmental experiences. The sunset shot I took in Newport, RI, is my proof.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-year-at-a-glance/feed/0Pay It Forwardhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/pay-it-forward/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/pay-it-forward/#respondWed, 23 Dec 2015 22:37:15 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4943My mother-in-law is in the hospital and after visiting with her all day, my father-in-law stopped for some dinner at a local restaurant. A 92 year old man, eating alone, he ate quietly and spoke to no one. When he … Continue reading →

My mother-in-law is in the hospital and after visiting with her all day, my father-in-law stopped for some dinner at a local restaurant. A 92 year old man, eating alone, he ate quietly and spoke to no one. When he went to pay his check he was told it had been taken care of by the couple at the next table. He was utterly amazed. Yesterday was his 92nd birthday. Though unfortunately we weren’t celebrating as planned, that was a beautiful, random act of kindness!

Our world is chaotic and often lacking in common courtesy and kindness. Imagine a world where we each paid it forward and did one small act of goodness a day!

At this season of joy and gratitude, I’d like to say how much I appreciate your support, your business and your friendship. In honor of you, my clients, I have made a donation to St Jude Children’s hospital. May this season of light and hope be one of peace and care for humankind.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/pay-it-forward/feed/0The Fine Linehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-fine-line/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-fine-line/#respondWed, 16 Dec 2015 22:22:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4940The first of the primary caucuses is just about 6 weeks away and the media is bombarding us with political fodder to chew on. Let’s be honest, some of the candidates in both parties are beyond outrageous in their assessment … Continue reading →

The first of the primary caucuses is just about 6 weeks away and the media is bombarding us with political fodder to chew on. Let’s be honest, some of the candidates in both parties are beyond outrageous in their assessment and possible solutions to what ails the economy, employment and world security. While they have convinced themselves that their paths are the only viable ones, their presentation style of ideas often borders on the ridiculous. Some appear as caricatures of themselves, and not flattering ones at that.

When presenting your intellectual property in all the available platforms or speaking to a captive audience, do you take the time to stand back and look at yourself and how you come across to your clients or listeners? Is it so out there as to be unbelievable or so toned down that it is a snooze festival?

Before putting yourself and your brand out there, be sure to turn the mirror on yourself and ascertain if you are presenting in the most fitting way. Over the top outrageous or lackluster property won’t sell. Keep in tiptop form and watch your numbers rise!

This week’s tip: Watch out for extremes when producing IT. Let them remember you and keep coming back for more because you make sense, are sensible and have your client’s best interest at heart.

I am here in Newport, Rhode Island, presenting to Alan Weiss’s Million Dollar Consulting College. As my friend, client, partner and mentor, I asked Alan to become the guest contributor to today’s Raising The Barr newsletter. Enjoy, Chad

The web is often cited as the ultimate repository of highly articulated content. In other words, if you want to find left-handed fly fishing gear or mint stamps from the 19th Century New Zealand postal service. In fact, you’ll have hundreds of sources, replete with reviews and associated links (Australian marsupials on stamps).

Fair enough, but the web has become useful in a completely different matter, not one of seeking help but rather of being sought. The key to entrepreneurial, professional services is to create a “gravity” that draws people to you. Instead of asking a buyer, “Would you like my help?” you want the buyer to approach you and ask, “How can we work together?” This obviates the need for the time to create relationships and removes fee resistance.

The best way to be sought is to be an object of interest. Don’t publish, for example, where there is huge, banal noise, like LinkedIn, publish on your own blog and allow comments. Publish as a guest on other people’s popular blogs. Don’t do podcast interviews that have an audience of 26 people (despite the interviewer’s claims). Create your own video series of pragmatic tips for those who are your ideal targets.

We consult Wikipedia, or a dictionary online, or Google daily We want people to be contacting us daily because we’ve become the source of wisdom critical to their businesses and success.

This week’s tip: Create quick value. Attention spans are shrinking. Text, audio, and video for free shouldn’t exceed five minutes, and one minute is fine. How long did it take you to read this?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/are-you-an-object-of-interest/feed/0The New Family Dinner Hourhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-new-family-dinner-hour-1/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-new-family-dinner-hour-1/#respondThu, 03 Dec 2015 07:31:41 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4885This week’s reflection point: Has technology taken over your family dinner hour? Many decades ago when frozen TV dinners were the newest craze, we began losing precious family time staring at the TV while we ate. The family dinner time … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Has technology taken over your family dinner hour? Many decades ago when frozen TV dinners were the newest craze, we began losing precious family time staring at the TV while we ate. The family dinner time to talk about business, schoolwork or highlights of our day stared slipping away. Today, we are incessantly checking for emails, messages, Instagram or Facebook posts all throughout the day. Go to any restaurant and you will find folks on their iPads and cell phones as soon as they are seated, even before the menus are handed to them or napkins unfolded. No conversation happening here. Some people have made a game out of it; all cell phones are placed down on the table and the first one to pick his up and look has to pick up the check for the whole table!

While staying connected with clients, family and friends is important, we need to keep a time carved out of the schedule for old-fashioned communication where we actually speak to one another, look into their eyes, and have a real conversation. The news, gossip, and instant messaging can all wait a few minutes longer.

Our fast changing technology is wonderful and we couldn’t live without it. But hey, let’s have our soup while it’s still hot, our meal before it’s turned cold, and enjoy one another’s company and chatter. The messages will be waiting for you after dessert. I promise.

This week’s tip: Technology keeps us instantly connected to our clients and customers. Let’s unplug for a few minutes a day to get “reconnected” to our families and enjoy the company without distraction.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-new-family-dinner-hour-1/feed/0A Thanksgiving Messagehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-thanksgiving-message/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-thanksgiving-message/#respondWed, 25 Nov 2015 21:15:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4879This week’s reflection point: Thanksgiving has arrived at the perfect time amid all the chaos and fear that has gripped the world. I got to spend the day in Orlando with my granddaughter at the newly opened American Girl doll … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Thanksgiving has arrived at the perfect time amid all the chaos and fear that has gripped the world. I got to spend the day in Orlando with my granddaughter at the newly opened American Girl doll store seeing the wonder of it all through the eyes of a 6-year-old. Born in the late 60’s, I grew up in a country of little materials and things but abundant in ideas, dreams and hope for the 8-year-old state of Israel. Today’s experience was the complete opposite; our eyes darted back and forth to the hundreds of dolls, accessories, clothing, Christmas glitter as kids of all ages with eyes and mouths wide open stood in awe of the abundance surrounding them. It was hard to focus on any one thing. My granddaughter however, was able to focus on the doll that spoke to her; the one that looked like her, the one that somehow immediately caught her attention.

As I grow older and the world grows bigger, the internet holds everything at my fingertips and I watch the news in real time, it becomes more and more difficult to focus on one specific thing with ease. Life has become overwhelming with abundance, in a good way, but have we lost sight of that single thing that draws us near, that sparks our passion, that grabs our attention away from all other distractions?

Tomorrow, as I sit down to a true feast surrounded by my loving family, I’m going to zero in on the quiet and peace that surrounds our sumptuous dinner table, enjoy the family and beautiful grandchildren who have stolen my heart and given me the opportunity to take it back to basics and what is abundantly important in my life.

This week’s tip: Do your best to separate that which is truly at the heart of your passion in all you do, personally and professionally, and strive to make and maintain that focus in a world that can become overwhelming.

This week’s reflection point: As experts we are here to provide our clients with insightful ideas that will accelerate and improve their success in life and business.

I find our ability to provide effective and practical advice directly relates to our talent, experience, knowledge, open mindedness, failures and successes. Like wine, it usually gets better with time.

I have gained much knowledge and wisdom by opening my mind to great thinkers and thought leaders and many of them happen to be my clients.

This ability has evolved by my need and desire to satisfy my curiosity to help resolve the issues and challenges of my clients and myself.

“What’s your advice or opinion on the following subject?” is often the question I asked my clients. After years of asking such questions and probably receiving thousands of answers, I am a better person for not only the advice I deliver, but also the advice I search for and receive.

This week’s tip: People love being asked for their opinion and to offer advice. Why not pick up the phone, call your clients, have a conversation and ask for their advice?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/whats-your-advice/feed/09 Popular Internet Mythshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/9-popular-internet-myths/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/9-popular-internet-myths/#respondWed, 11 Nov 2015 21:55:35 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4863This week’s reflection point: There are many myths surrounding the Internet, which are floating around since its inception. I decided to debunk some of them once and for all: Al Gore invented the Internet. I am kidding of course, as … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: There are many myths surrounding the Internet, which are floating around since its inception. I decided to debunk some of them once and for all:

Al Gore invented the Internet. I am kidding of course, as I just wanted to grab your attention with some humor.

If you build it they will come. Just building it doesn’t attract them. Developing the right business and Internet strategy, powerful content, great looks, marketing savvy, and dedication are the key ingredients to create success on the Internet.

All Internet marketers are dishonest. Actually, most are extremely passionate about their business and providing their clients with genuine value.

Congratulations! You’ve just won a free iPad. These are the claims I would avoid like a hawk.

Most online stories are true. You should know better than that.

Always use the latest software version. As a matter of fact many are loaded with bugs and not well tested.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/9-popular-internet-myths/feed/0An Hour A Dayhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/an-hour-a-day/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/an-hour-a-day/#respondWed, 04 Nov 2015 21:04:41 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4849This week’s reflection point: Imagine what it would be like having one extra hour added to your day, each and every day of the year. This past weekend, we all got an extra hour of time to relax, create, waste … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Imagine what it would be like having one extra hour added to your day, each and every day of the year. This past weekend, we all got an extra hour of time to relax, create, waste or work. And there’s always so much hype leading up to the time change; constant media reminders to change the clock on the appliances, fall back, not to miss an early appointment and replace the smoke alarm batteries.

On the day of the time change and for a few days afterward, we are constantly calculating what time it really is, analyzing why we are still so tired, why we can’t sleep and remarking on how much darker it is by the end of our work day.

One extra hour per day translates into 9 extra weeks a year!

So I ask you, how would you use an extra hour every day if you could have one?

This week’s tip: Why not look at your present day and find out how to best use the hours to free up one of those hours and devote it to the things about which you are most passionate. It’s up to you to make it worthwhile and improve your life either personally or professionally.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/an-hour-a-day/feed/013 Questions To Transform Your Businesshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-questions-to-transform-your-business/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-questions-to-transform-your-business/#respondWed, 28 Oct 2015 20:42:29 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4845This week’s reflection point: I love asking my clients and myself the kind of provocative questions that would then fuel the next level of growth and transformation. Here are the latest 13 I have come up with. Have you: Identified … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I love asking my clients and myself the kind of provocative questions that would then fuel the next level of growth and transformation. Here are the latest 13 I have come up with.

Have you:

Identified your unique abilities and your gifts?

Articulated your purpose for existence?

Surrounded yourself with people who challenge you and also pull you up?

Tried implementing new ideas and fail?

Complimented someone or sent a thank you note today?

Realized that it may take seven or more attempts to connect with a new buyer?

Created your WOW product or service that makes you irresistible?

Developed scarcity or taking action incentives around your offerings?

Focused on building long–term trusting relationships with your clients, colleagues and partners?

Determined whether the next activity you are about to take is going to distract or help you?

Sensed some fear, which was the trigger for you to then do it?

Inspired your clients to reach higher levels?

Realized that your clients are buying transformational experiences from you?

This week’s tip: Take the time to answer these questions. I assure you that the investment of time will be well worth it.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/13-questions-to-transform-your-business/feed/0Make a Differencehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-a-difference/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-a-difference/#respondWed, 21 Oct 2015 14:12:22 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4843This week’s reflection point: I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Tenement museum on Orchard street on New York’s lower east side while visiting the city this week. A dilapidated dwelling, built in the early 1860’s, housed more than … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Tenement museum on Orchard street on New York’s lower east side while visiting the city this week. A dilapidated dwelling, built in the early 1860’s, housed more than 7000 immigrants between 1863-1935. What makes this building so unique? Surely many people have immigration stories that can be traced through familial genealogy these days.

This building, this area, was home to the true melting pot and fabric that comprised the American dream for thousands who dreamed of a better life in the new land. Each apartment, no more than 300 square feet,was inhabited by people sharing the same ethnicity, each hoping to find a path of greater safety, freedom and wealth for themselves and their children. Without proper sanitation, running water, electricity or gas, women gave birth, cooked, cleaned, raised and buried their children within the confines of these tiny homes, their sanctuary of hope and symbol of struggle. What appeared an untenable situation for me, in today’s world, was still a place of joy, community, family and promise.

Most men, working 14–16 hour days, still believed that their lives and the lives of their families were better off in this new world and the cramped, tuberculosis filled tenement was a stepping stone, a gateway to the rewards of hard work which lied ahead.

As we, in 2015, reflect on our year that is coming to a close, we too, look at the world we have created for ourselves, the walls which house our families, and the dreams we continue to dream as we hope for a brighter future for ourselves and our families.

How will we balance our personal needs versus the greater and pressing concerns of the world around us? What will each of us do to ensure that the difficulties we face and ultimately find ourselves challenged by in the weeks and years ahead help shape us personally and professionally to keep alive the hopes and dreams for a better future?

You and I live comfortable lives free of the challenges that the immigrants of the 1800’s faced. I feel it is still my duty to make a difference, continue to improve he world in which we live, and never give up hope for a better life for us, our families, our clients and all humankind.

This week’s tip: What are the areas in your life where there is room for growth personally, professionally and altruistically that you can make a difference?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/make-a-difference/feed/0What Are Your Best Practices?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-your-best-practices/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/what-are-your-best-practices/#respondWed, 14 Oct 2015 20:44:05 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4840This week’s reflection point: As mid-October passes us by, the New Year approaches closer every day. There might still be some lingering summer weather, but fall is well underway—and 2016 will be here before we know it. All this has … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: As mid-October passes us by, the New Year approaches closer every day. There might still be some lingering summer weather, but fall is well underway—and 2016 will be here before we know it. All this has compelled me to reflect on the past year at the Chad Barr Group. My team and I have had some amazing successes this year.

[tweetthis display_mode=”box”]We continue to develop best practices that lead to remarkable results.[/tweetthis]

Today, I’d like to share the top 5 of those best practices with you. I hope it gets you thinking about your own best practices—and how they help your business grow.

Walk the talk. As I wrote back in July, one of the most important practices for any business leader is to take your own advice. For me and my team, this meant launching a stunning new web presence this year. Brimming with more ideas, more value, and more ways to share our knowledge than ever before, our new site is the ultimate in “walking the talk.”

Constantly invest in the team. Businesses are only as good as the people within them. That’s why it’s imperative to keep investing in the team around you. At the Chad Barr Group, I’m always looking to increase our fabulous team with more great talent and powerful minds.

Embrace creativity. Another best practice is to constantly reinvent and push ourselves. Creating new ideas, new programs, and new channels of delivering value to clients is essential to success.

Try new things. It might sound simple, but it’s a tremendous boon to business. Having the courage to try new things—even though they might fail—is central to achieving continued business growth. Taking risk is necessary.

Be optimistic. I look at the glass as half-full, and approach work with a sense of abundance and greatness. This empowers me and my team, enabling us to do better work with more enthusiasm—every day.

Here are just a few of the powerful outcomes the Chad Barr Group has achieved as a result of those 5 best practices:

Unsolicited referrals. We receive more unsolicited referrals than ever before, which is the ultimate compliment. It means that our business is doing a great job, our marketing is working, and people understand the value we have to offer.

Frequent web inquiries. Web inquiries are coming in all the time. This shows me that the results we generate for our clients are heard worldwide.

Contentment. Although I still push myself to go the extra mile, try new things, and discover better ways to provide value, I am happier than ever with where the Chad Barr Group is today.

What are your best practices?

This week’s tip: Reflecting on your best practices is a calibrating tool that helps you measure what has worked and what hasn’t. It allows you to refine what you need to focus on next week, next month, next quarter, and next year.

This week’s reflection point: Achieving top success in any business requires a thirst for knowledge and continuous learning. Most successful entrepreneurs have a selection of favorite books that inspire their businesses. Others religiously follow blogs or newsletters that dispense great business advice. But is reading enough to propel you to true thought leadership in your field?

The simple answer is no. While absorbing educational content is key to growing your business, it’s no substitution for surrounding yourself with intelligent, innovative, successful people. I call this your “genius network”—and it has the potential to catapult your business to new heights.

Let me explain. If you were trying to become a professional skier, you might buy a bunch of books on the technique of skiing. You might even follow the blogs of successful skiers, watch skiing competitions on TV, and read up about today’s best ski equipment.

The next time you hit the slopes, you would certainly be a more informed skier—and maybe you would improve dramatically over time. But becoming a professional skier would elude you forever until you took the next step: surrounding yourself by expert skiers who are better than you, more informed than you, and willing to challenge you on the slopes.

The same is true for the business world. Investing your time, energy, and resources into forging relationships with the best business leaders can optimize your future. These genius networks stimulate your mind, challenge you to grow, and inspire you to improve your business in innovative ways.

Here are four steps you can take right away to start cultivating your genius network:

Start a group of about four people who are more successful than you are. Meet regularly and discuss ways to challenge the status quo in your businesses.

Surround yourself with colleagues, friends, and even clients who challenge you to constantly improve your business.

Take time every day to reflect on how the people in your genius network can inspire you to develop your next big idea to positively impact your client base.

In addition to reading other people’s content, write your own. Master your own area of expertise, write about it, share it and teach it to others.

Put simply, there is no substitution for a face-to-face meeting with an expert. Surrounding yourself with like-minded, successful individuals will help you continue to raise the bar.

This week’s tip: Surround yourself with a “genius network” of incredibly successful people to propel your business to the next level.

This week’s reflection point: Do the acronyms: BRB, LOL, IMHO, CYL, or IDK, seem familiar to you? When it comes to web acronyms, or Internet jargon, how hip are you? I’ve noticed the popularity of such acronyms growing significantly over the years where one may probably need a special dictionary to interpret incoming messages.

I suspect the trend started years ago with the invention of cell phones and the need to type short messages on a clunky numeric keyboard. It has now spread like wildfire into the social media platforms, business and personal correspondence and even in corporate lingo. I’ve noticed business people, executives, professional speakers and even journalists use these acronyms in their communication while failing to provide the decoding ring so we may clearly understand them.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-new-oxford-dictionary/feed/0A 2nd Chancehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-2nd-chance/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-2nd-chance/#respondWed, 23 Sep 2015 20:50:12 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4824This week’s reflection point: This is the time of year when I celebrate the Jewish New Year and the days of Awe. Today is Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement), the holiest of days. It is the day that we ask … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: This is the time of year when I celebrate the Jewish New Year and the days of Awe. Today is Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement), the holiest of days. It is the day that we ask for forgiveness for past wrong doings, to our family and friends, and we are also given the chance to reflect on our past year, and how we may improve in the future–perhaps a second chance.

Most individuals and organizations I meet, constantly strive to improve and explore various ways to raise the bar. Whether setting big goals and action plans or investing in their infrastructure and knowledge, they set the pressure to make it their best year ever.

Usually, it is a positive pressure you put on yourself but, I have also observed that this pressure may bring with it stress, disappointments of not reaching one’s goals, additional loss of revenues, wrong decision-making and even illness or market elimination.

So on this special Day of Atonement, as we ask for forgiveness, we should also learn to forgive and be kind to ourselves, cut ourselves a bit of slack, stop beating ourselves up about the past, and realize that today has the potential to become an amazing day and begin the journey towards a successful year. [tweetthis display_mode=”box”]Everyday we are given a 2nd chance to make it our best day, ever![/tweetthis]

This week’s tip: Begin each day by realizing that you’ve been given the opportunity to improve on the days that have passed and make this new day an incredible one. Call it your daily 2nd chance.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/a-2nd-chance/feed/0Beyond Content: It’s Time for Experiential Marketinghttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beyond-content-its-time-for-experiential-marketing/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beyond-content-its-time-for-experiential-marketing/#respondWed, 16 Sep 2015 15:49:57 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4820This week’s reflection point: It’s widely known that content marketing is critical to business success. But in this day and age, creating valuable, relevant content for your target audience isn’t the only marketing strategy you need. You must also give … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: It’s widely known that content marketing is critical to business success. But in this day and age, creating valuable, relevant content for your target audience isn’t the only marketing strategy you need. You must also give your audience an authentic experience—and you can do this with experiential marketing.

Experiential marketing enables your customers to truly experience your brand, your product, or your service. It allows you to show your prospects—firsthand—the incredible results you can help them achieve. Through the use of images, sound, video, and 3-D visuals, you can do more than simply show or tell. You can give your customers an irresistible experience of success.

By way of example, luxury car manufacturers such as BMW are famous for their experiential marketing ads. As the TV screen flashes peeks of the newest car model, viewers get a real sense of how it might feel to grip the premium-leather steering wheel in their own hands. These ads are often shot from a first-person perspective, making viewers feel like they’re literally in the driver’s seat. The winding road stretches out before them; smooth leather and shiny chrome surround them; a moon-roof showcases stars in the sky above as they zoom toward the horizon.

Taking this technique to a whole new level, Buick announced this year that customers will have the chance to take test-drive vehicles home for 24 hours as part of what the company calls its “long-term brand promise.” Such experiential marketing tactics demonstrate the company’s confidence in its product, and give potential customers the ability to truly experience what it’s like to be a satisfied buyer.

So how does this all relate to you and your business? Here are six tips to help you formulate your experiential marketing plan:

Leverage your web presence to provide experiences to visitors, rather than just information.

Find creative ways to let your audience experience what it’s like to work with you.

If you offer a product, enable customers to experience how your product can create success.

If you sell an experience—such as vacations or hotel packages—give your customers a real taste of the ultimate experience you offer.

If you’re a service provider, think about what experience will compel clients to work with you.

Clarify your target audience’s recognition of what success looks like with your company.

With all of these methods, keep the senses in mind. You want to transport your audience via sight and sound—even smell, taste, and touch—to a feeling of success. Done right, experiential marketing is about creating an experience that’s not just close to reality—it’s actually better.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/beyond-content-its-time-for-experiential-marketing/feed/0Attributes of a Dream Teamhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-a-dream-team/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/attributes-of-a-dream-team/#respondWed, 09 Sep 2015 16:57:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4817From left: Adi Beeri, Chad Barr, Lihi BZ This week’s reflection point: I just arrived in Dublin for a business meeting after a fabulous week in Israel spent visiting and reuniting with family and friends. A huge highlight was my … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I just arrived in Dublin for a business meeting after a fabulous week in Israel spent visiting and reuniting with family and friends. A huge highlight was my face-to-face meeting, (coffee and cake) with the Israeli division of our creative team. It’s clear to me that I could not have achieved our incredible success without the devotion and talent of the team I’ve surrounded myself with. Here are the attributes of this great team and what they do:

Take initiatives to consistently raise the bar(r).

Challenge the status quo.

Look for our company and our clients’ best interest.

Research and advance their knowledge.

Challenge me and our clients to constantly improve.

Innovate new concepts and ideas.

Collaborate to achieve powerful results.

Take our success and our clients success personally.

This week’s tip: Creating or surrounding yourself with a dream team will make the difference between surviving or thriving. You can make it happen, I truly did.

This week’s reflection point: What’s the key to a successful business? Some might say it’s a solid business strategy, a strong financial plan, or even a team of excellent people. Others will tell you it’s effective leadership or huge demand for the product or service. While each of these components is important, the truth is that marketing trumps them all.

That’s right: marketing. Far too many business owners ignore the significance of a powerful marketing strategy. Many claim that marketing isn’t relevant to their industries, or that it’s a waste of time and resources that could be devoted to more “tangible” business assets. This couldn’t be more wrong.

Marketing is absolutely critical for every business. Marketing is the “it” factor that separates mediocre businesses from truly spectacular ones.

I first learned the importance of marketing nearly 30 years ago, when I started my own business. At the time, I was working full-time at a consulting firm, and teaching a college course. One of my students—who would later become my accountant—gave me a piece of advice that changed my life:

“There are a lot of other smart people out there,” he said. “You’ve got to learn to market yourself.”

What my friend meant was that marketing was the key factor that could set me apart from other sharp-minded professionals. Unless I learned how to market myself better than the rest, I would never reach my full potential or build a hugely successful business.

This lesson stuck with me, and I hope it sticks with you. It makes no difference how good you are at what you do if nobody knows who you are.

So what should you do to market yourself? Here are some tips to help you get started:

Leverage your website, packing it full of valuable information that appeals directly to your target buyers

Blog often, sharing your intellectual property on a regular basis to generate a loyal following of readers

Pursue great speaking opportunities to build your platform and get your message out to more people

Establish relationships with journalists, bloggers, and other members of the media to enhance your public exposure

Network whenever you can to forge valuable connections with other professionals

Become a prolific publisher of remarkable content to build up your intellectual property and give customers more value

The six strategies above are all crucial aspects of marketing. The best of the best leverage all of these strategies—and more. To begin, pick two or three marketing tactics that you think will be most successful for your business.

It’s time to infuse your business with the marketing “it” factor.

This week’s tip: Marketing is absolutely critical for every business. Marketing is the “it” factor that separates mediocre businesses from truly spectacular ones. Focus on a few marketing strategies to start growing and accelerating a stand-out business today.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/the-marketing-it-factor/feed/040 Lessons Learned From Running My Businesshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/40-lessons-learned-from-running-my-business/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/40-lessons-learned-from-running-my-business/#respondWed, 26 Aug 2015 22:21:56 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4795This week’s reflection point: Almost five years ago I wrote and shared my original Lessons Learned From Running My Business article, which included 40 lessons that have become quite popular among our readers. Since then, I have added 40 additional … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Almost five years ago I wrote and shared my original Lessons Learned From Running My Business article, which included 40 lessons that have become quite popular among our readers. Since then, I have added 40 additional lessons, which I mentioned and have made available in this article. In the spirit of learning and sharing, here are 40 additional lessons learned:

I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the smartest clients in the world. I don’t take my role for granted in helping them increase their success and I also recognize the great gift I got of learning from some of the best minds out there.

I love challenging myself to create best practices and insights that I may share with my clients in various formats. The challenge is to quickly come up with topics within my areas of expertise or questions I was recently asked and to immediately be able to address these with several insights and recommendations. When I originally started doing this, three such insights were within my immediate comfort range. Over time, this number increased dramatically and this article is a great example of this technique.

One of the greatest compliments you may offer your clients is that of referring business to them.

Enthusiasm is contagious. When you share it with your clients they become enthusiastic and look forward to you contacting them.

Each day I enjoy reviewing my 3 biggest successes (personal and business) for the day and my 3 planned successes for the next day.

When a client shares their successes with me, I rejoice in their achievements and let it be the perfect trigger to ask them for a testimonial and referrals.

Create a library of checklists to share with your clients. 3 steps for this and 11 steps for that. Your clients will love you for doing this.

I constantly ask myself whether we are complacent and too comfortable with our success or whether we constantly reinvent ourselves.

Identify what are the hot discussion topics of your target audience and create powerful and provocative content around it.

Create one profound goal per week with several action plan items to support it. Now go execute one at a time.

We all have our treasure of content we have created over the years. Learn to repurpose it, which will reduce your labor intensity of creating content from scratch and allow an older piece to come back to life.

Review any of the bullet points within your content and make each become its own unique piece of content.

One of my favorite questions I ask myself and my clients: “fast forward a year or two from now, what does remarkable success look like and what needs to happen to get there?”

During my speeches, I have two three primary objectives: Deliver amazing value to the audience, be able to stay in touch with as many of them as possible, and have fun!

If your destination is important figure out a way to get there.

I have an amazing team and could not do what I do without their great talent. It’s something I leverage daily.

Build and store your content and your community on your own platforms supported by your trusted Internet partner. Otherwise, you may lose complete control. For example, if you built your content and community on Facebook, most of your posts have stopped reaching them since Facebook changed their rules and algorithm.

Find opportunities to connect with new and existing clients especially around their areas of interest and what is top of mind for them.

Collect and digitally catalog examples, stories, statistics and facts that you may use in your speeches and content creation to substantiate your points and make them interesting. Make sure you create an easy way to search and retrieve these.

Create a system that enables you to systematically stay in touch with your existing and prospective clients and provide them with ongoing value.

I have to admit that I often wonder about those SEO spammers. If they were that good at SEO, why then do they spam us and not use SEO to promote their own business? We need to walk our talk.

Here is a question I ask my team and myself: “what will you do differently this week?”

I am often saturated with great ideas to improve my business. I have come to realize that when I have several great ideas to execute the order rarely makes a difference. I just need to pick one and go for it.

Routines are at the heart of success. I do my best to eliminate the negative while making sure to routinize the positive and ones that have the biggest potential impact.

Just because it shows up in digital ink does not mean it is true. I am very selective whom I choose to listen to and take advice from.

I greatly enjoy meeting new people who have created great successes and impact others. I enjoy working my list of who to contact next.

Not sure what to write about? Read the headlines, listen to questions your clients are asking you or ask them to share their top issues with you. You should never run out of content ideas.

Another profound impact for our clients is to lead and take them into the future.

I learned that scarcity often increase interest and impulse buying.

By the age of 65, Peter Drucker has published 1/3 of his books, which means that his best work was published afterwards. This is an inspiring legacy I would love to follow.

One of my favorite questions to ask a new client is whether they have the courage to do what it takes to be successful. Remarkable conversations often ensue.

Looking at tasks that are important and we repeat doing call for systemization of such.

Imagine where we would be without the awesome power of evolution. Tweets become articles, which become booklets, which become books, which become workshops, which become your body of work and intellectual property.

Not all clients are created equally. If you want to grow and enjoy your business, get the right clients.

If you want to dramatically improve your personal and business success, hang out with extraordinary people.

Did you know that when you demonstrate success your buyers are afraid of being rejected by you?

When they read, hear or watch your content, do they say “wow” or “I never thought about it this way” and take notes or do they say “so what?” Develop the former.

Success takes hard work because it requires the discipline to execute, the elimination of distractions and the removal of the superfluous.

Let me see your calendar and I can immediately tell you how successful you are. Schedule your success!

Rather than worry where the next sale is coming from why not determine the ones to contact to provide value and help improve their lives and businesses. It’s all about our mindset.

This week’s tip: Start creating insights and recommendations to share with your clients while focusing on increasing the numbers consistently and rapidly. The outcomes are mindboggling.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/40-lessons-learned-from-running-my-business/feed/011 Ways to Promote Your Business Onlinehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-ways-to-promote-your-business-online/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-ways-to-promote-your-business-online/#respondWed, 19 Aug 2015 20:47:47 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4679This week’s reflection point: The question of how to promote your business online is a recurring theme I hear quite often. Three years ago, I wrote the article How To Promote Your Website when I shared 21 ideas of doing … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: The question of how to promote your business online is a recurring theme I hear quite often. Three years ago, I wrote the article How To Promote Your Website when I shared 21 ideas of doing so. Today, I am going to change the angle slightly and focus on how to promote your business online. Here are my recommendations:

Update your blog often since it is the ultimate repository of your intellectual property where you are able to share your insights, success stories and engage your audience in a variety of media formats.

Create podcasts by recording your own voice, interview others or get interviewed. This concept has become very popular since it enables your listeners to easily download to their mobile devices and listen when they wish.

Send out press releases when you have interesting news to share, new products to unveil or breakthrough ideas to contribute.

Establish relationships with journalists and respond to their requests to interview experts such as you in order to increase your publishing exposure.

Leverage the various social media platforms to create genuine connections, conversations and growth opportunities.

Produce powerful videos that showcase your expertise and your remarkable value. You should then proliferate your site as well as other online video platforms to help you increase your global exposure.

Share your improvement ideas with your audience through your newsletter and do so consistently.

Use online paid advertising to market and promote your company with various platforms such as Google, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and others that may make sense.

Identify the right opportunities for speaking and presenting your knowledge and wisdom to your target audience.

Craft and build effective and powerful products that would generate interest, viral spread and irresistible attraction to you.

I was recently interviewed by Chris Cooper from the UK on VoiceAmerica. In the spirit of sharing and demonstrating some of the ideas above, I would like to share with you the interview where I discussed Million Dollar Web Presence concepts.

This week’s tip: If you are executing all 11 ideas to promote your business, kudos to you as I encourage you to keep at it. Otherwise, I’d suggest you identify the next one to implement. The potential outcomes are sure worth it.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/11-ways-to-promote-your-business-online/feed/0Juggling Connectivityhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/juggling-connectivity/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/juggling-connectivity/#respondWed, 12 Aug 2015 20:37:04 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4671This week’s reflection point: We live in an era of constant and instant connectivity. Over the past 15 years, our society has undergone a complete transformation in terms of basic interactions. It’s no surprise that the kids who came of … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: We live in an era of constant and instant connectivity. Over the past 15 years, our society has undergone a complete transformation in terms of basic interactions. It’s no surprise that the kids who came of age during this time period, the infamous Millennials, are known as The On-Demand Generation. These days, it seems that anything you want, you can get on demand—or at least in 1 to 2 business days, with free shipping.

On one hand, there’s an absurd side to all this connectivity. You can see it in the husband and wife who text each other from different rooms in the same house; the friends who sit, transfixed by their iPhone screens, ignoring each other at a restaurant dinner; or the work-centric parent who can’t seem to stop checking email even when it’s time to spend quality time with the kids.

On the other hand, constant connectivity is a boon for business. Seemingly unlimited methods of interaction mean that you’re accessible to clients whenever they need you. Internet-based communication technologies such as Skype have rendered geographic boundaries (and long-distance surcharges) obsolete. And the ability to tweet or post status updates from mobile phones has transformed the experience of conferences and speeches. Now, audiences as well as presenters can give live commentary on whatever they witness, sending real-time reactions out into cyberspace.

Reflecting on all this, it occurs to me that being constantly connected is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, the invention of tools like Google has given us the power to answer questions instantaneously, eliminating our need to wonder. But what have we lost in return?

The answer might not be straightforward, but one thing is for certain: We must maintain a balance in our lives when it comes to connectivity. There must be a time for “unplugging,” just as there is a time for being plugged in. We should separate family from work, and not allow our mobile devices to encroach on our precious time with loved ones.

Juggling connectivity is a challenge, but it’s worth it. So the next time you find yourself staring a screen when you should be looking someone in the eye, check your balance. You’ll be glad you did.

This week’s tip: Being constantly connected can be both a blessing and a curse. It can improve your business, sometimes at the cost of personal time. How well do you maintain your balance of connectivity?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/juggling-connectivity/feed/0Tips To Identifying Your Web Partnerhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/tips-to-identifying-your-web-partner/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/tips-to-identifying-your-web-partner/#respondTue, 11 Aug 2015 08:30:59 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4666A few years back I shared several ideas on Finding The Right Web Partner. I just added a few more bullet points to the original article and decided to repurpose this article.

This week’s reflection point: No matter the industry, all top thought leaders share one thing in common: They’re prolific publishers of remarkable content. It’s no coincidence that today’s most prominent business leaders write so much. After all, extraordinary content is what propelled them to the top—and it’s what keeps them there.

You can’t become an Olympic athlete, a James Beard award-winning chef, or a Grammy-toting musician without learning from the successful habits of former luminaries in your field. Thought leadership is no different. To find success, aspiring thought leaders must follow the lead of top thought leaders to produce a steady stream of remarkable content.

Publishing non-stop, provocative content is a powerful cyber strategy on many levels. By creating a vast repository of videos, podcasts, books, e-books, articles, blogs, and other forms of content, you will build a reputation as an authority in your field. In addition, this high-level content creation is the driving force behind two other powerful cyber strategies for thought leaders: expanding global reach, and establishing a legacy.

In today’s increasingly globalized marketplace—where potential clients from South Africa can find you just as easily as ones from New Jersey—global reach is crucial to thought leadership. The key is to develop a global mindset. Let go of the inhibitions that limit your business to one city, one state, one country, or even one continent.

When writing content, be careful not to alienate readers by setting specific geographic parameters on your ideas, products, or services. Also, avoid using lingo that might only be understood in your area of the world. If you marry together prolific content creation with an eye for global reach, your thought leadership will truly know no bounds.

But even if you create prolific content and expand your global reach, you might feel like something is still missing from your thought leadership strategy. This is where your legacy comes in. Establishing a legacy is a crucial cyber strategy for aspiring thought leaders, since it provides you with a unique, motivating framework for your ideas.

What do you want your legacy to be? What community will respond best to that legacy? How will you carry your legacy forward? Answering these questions can be tremendously helpful when it comes to determining your target audience, crafting your content, deciding how to expand your global reach, and ultimately becoming a top thought leader in your own right.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/cyber-strategies-for-thought-leaders/feed/0Taking Control of Technologyhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/taking-control-of-technology/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/taking-control-of-technology/#respondWed, 29 Jul 2015 20:47:02 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4628This week’s reflection point: Does it ever feel like technology is controlling you, rather than empowering you? If so, it’s easy to understand why. We live in a world where machines seem to conquer all. Back in 2011, IBM’s “Watson” … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Does it ever feel like technology is controlling you, rather than empowering you? If so, it’s easy to understand why.

We live in a world where machines seem to conquer all. Back in 2011, IBM’s “Watson” computer beat out Jeopardy!‘s two best players to win over $70,000 in a landslide victory. And since 1996, when the first computer beat the top-rated chess player in the world, computers have been yelling “check-mate!” at strategy competitions around the globe.

It might sound like an impending machine takeover, but this rise in technology intelligence actually bodes well for you and your business. The question of whether technology controls you, or you control technology, comes down to one factor: Your ability to smartly leverage whatever technologies make you more efficient.

The number one pitfall to avoid is using too much of the wrong technology. Social media misuse is one of the most common examples of this. Many businesspeople bury themselves in dozens of social networks and sharing platforms, eager not to miss out on any of them.

But in the process, these professionals end up hurting their productivity. Precious time is wasted. Spread too thin, these misguided social users do a poor job on every social network. Instead, the key is to do a fantastic job on a few social networks that are right for your business audience.

Done right, technology can skyrocket your productivity, efficiency, profits and inbound attraction. The appropriate programs, platforms, and apps can have a “cloning” effect, enabling you to accomplish multiple tasks at once with no extra effort. It’s like having two or more of you—and what could be better than that?

The key takeaway here is not to be a slave to technology. Be smart about which technologies you use. Before adopting a new or popular technology, first make sure that it’s right for you. Don’t adopt just for the sake of adopting. The technologies you use should enable you to more efficiently stay in touch with your clients, reach your content to the best audience, and collaborate with your business partners.

Start taking control by identifying just one or two technologies that make sense for your business today. Embrace those technologies. Strategize how to leverage them to increase your efficiency. Then, if they’re successful, consider moving on to a third or fourth technology.

With this approach, you’ll save yourself from feeling controlled by technology, and instead be empowered by it. It’s never too late to rise up against the machines.

Unless, of course, you happen to be on an episode of Jeopardy!

This week’s tip: Instead of burying yourself in technologies, take control of them. Smartly leverage the right technologies that make you more efficient to reduce your costs and labor intensity while increasing your productivity, revenues and global reach.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/taking-control-of-technology/feed/0Cyber Strategy Successhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/cyber-strategy-success/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/cyber-strategy-success/#respondWed, 22 Jul 2015 23:23:21 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4619This week’s reflection point: My clients often refer to me as their cyber strategist. So as I was reflecting about the essence of a successful cyber strategy it occurred to me that the acronym stands for: Content that is amazing and … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: My clients often refer to me as their cyber strategist. So as I was reflecting about the essence of a successful cyber strategy it occurred to me that the acronym stands for:

Strategy that paves the way to a great future.Technology to deliver value and attract clients.Reinvent yourself and your clients.Audience that is identified and targeted.Targeted value leveraging.Exponential growth.Generosity of giving to others.Yearly action plan that propels you forward.

This week’s tip: Review your cyber strategy and identify areas where you may impact your success?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/cyber-strategy-success/feed/0Earning Your Thought Leadershiphttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/earning-your-thought-leadership/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/earning-your-thought-leadership/#respondWed, 15 Jul 2015 21:05:16 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4614This week’s reflection point: For years I have been saying that one of the key attributes of successful thought leaders is that they are prolific publishers of remarkable and provocative content and they consistently increase their body of work. Consequently, … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: For years I have been saying that one of the key attributes of successful thought leaders is that they are prolific publishers of remarkable and provocative content and they consistently increase their body of work.

Notice in the visual above, on the left, the items that support and promote thought leadership. On the opposite side are the items that detract or prevent you from reaching your thought leadership achievements.

Challenge your own way of thinking and start publishing unique and helpful thoughts so others may quote you!

You know that the title of a thought leader has been bestowed upon you when others are consistently quoting and referencing you.

This week’s tip: Don’t let inertia take over. Since object in motion stay in motion, get moving and create a great legacy.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/earning-your-thought-leadership/feed/0Walking the Talkhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/walking-the-talk/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/walking-the-talk/#respondWed, 08 Jul 2015 20:47:56 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4605This week’s reflection point: It’s easy to give your clients advice. What’s more difficult is following it yourself. Admittedly, it can be challenging to “walk the talk” when it comes to doing the very things you tell your clients to … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: It’s easy to give your clients advice. What’s more difficult is following it yourself. Admittedly, it can be challenging to “walk the talk” when it comes to doing the very things you tell your clients to do. But if you fail to implement your own strategies, why should your clients trust you?

Of course, the answer is that they probably shouldn’t. That’s why it’s so important to take stock of your business habits on a regular basis. If you’re busy doling out guidance to others, it’s imperative that you set time aside to heed your own advice. Here are three simple ways to make sure you don’t stumble into the pitfall of ignoring your own advice:

Walk the talk. Hold yourself accountable the same way you hold your clients accountable. Do all the same things you tell your clients to do.

Show, don’t tell. Don’t just tell your clients what to do—show them! Implement your own strategies and then show clients first-hand results of how your advice can help them.

Build a track record. Don’t just dispense “academic” advice that you got from a book. Instead, build a track record to prove that your ideas work.

At the end of the day, it’s hard work to do what you tell your clients to do. At the Chad Barr Group, we know how challenging it can be. We work hard to lead the way for our clients with an amazing web presence, top-notch digital strategy, the world-class design elements, and much more. Just this past week, we launched a brand new web presence, complete with a fresh site, powerful strategy, amazing new content, examples of best practices, and a WOW design. Soon, we’ll be releasing a host of new products and services to help demonstrate best practice insights to improve your business and showcase our remarkable track record of success and that of our clients.

Are you doing the same?

The best business leaders lead by example, roll up their sleeves, and show the way. Are you leading by example for your clients?

This week’s tip: The best business leaders lead by example, roll up their sleeves, and show the way. Are you leading by example for your clients?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/walking-the-talk/feed/0Freedom Reduxhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/freedom-redux/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/freedom-redux/#respondSat, 04 Jul 2015 14:31:55 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4507Two years ago I wrote my Freedom post and I can’t think of a better way to share and express my respect and gratitude. Happy Fourth of July!

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/freedom-redux/feed/0Recreating The Visionhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo/#respondWed, 01 Jul 2015 20:52:59 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=4206This week’s reflection point: I am ecstatic to announce the debut of the new and exciting web presence for my company, The Chad Barr Group. This was a long time in the making and took the focus and dedication of … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I am ecstatic to announce the debut of the new and exciting web presence for my company, The Chad Barr Group. This was a long time in the making and took the focus and dedication of our entire team to complete. I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank each and every one of my amazing and creative team members. And I want to thank YOU, our loyal clients and colleagues, as you are the reason and inspiration we do what we do and the purpose behind why we continue the quest to always Raise The Barr.

My top lessons learned:

Ask for help and leverage the strength of the genius surrounding you.

Remind yourself of your passion and the purpose of your existence.

Challenge others and welcome others challenging you.

When you assemble a group of talented and committed individuals who understand the vision and the goals, remarkable results ensue.

It takes a village to raise a child but it takes the entire Chad Barr Group team to make a vision a reality.

Please visit our new virtual home, share your feedback with us and let us know how we can improve and provide you with even more value.

This week’s tip: The impossible only takes a few minutes longer and the journey begins by taking a first step. Take yours today.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo/feed/0With Baited Breath…https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-with-the-baited-breath/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-with-the-baited-breath/#respondThu, 25 Jun 2015 02:03:22 +0000http://www.chadbarr.com/?p=2912This week’s reflection point: Have you ever performed in a show? Long days of rehearsals, learning lines and music, sets and costumes in preparation for the opening night. The incredible anxiety and anticipation for an exciting show, or in my … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Have you ever performed in a show? Long days of rehearsals, learning lines and music, sets and costumes in preparation for the opening night. The incredible anxiety and anticipation for an exciting show, or in my case, the launch of the new site for The Chad Barr Group is exhilarating and awesome. It’s going to be nothing short of remarkable.

What does it take to create a truly innovative web presence? Clear identification of business strategy, content development, creating the marketing blueprint, more content development, gaining clarity of the brand and the creative direction, even more content development, and then design, coding and testing. And of course our amazing team to make this a reality.

The process of creating, with all the pieces of puzzle, leads to the final and anticipated completion and that is showcasing our capabilities and talents and ultimately delivering insights and value to our clients around the world.

Drum roll please…We are rolling out the red carpet for the debut of the new web presence for The Chad Barr Group on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. As always, we welcome your feedback, comments and support.

This week’s tip: For what are you anxiously awaiting in your business? An innovative idea, new technology or amazing content? Make it happen, and let that day be today!

Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-with-the-baited-breath/feed/0Ah, The Good Ol’ Dayshttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/ah-the-good-ol-days/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/ah-the-good-ol-days/#respondThu, 18 Jun 2015 01:44:57 +0000http://www.chadbarr.com/?p=2903 This week’s reflection point: I remember going through some old photo albums several years ago when my young son, astonished by viewing the black and white photos, said: “when did the world turn colorful?” Cute and innocent as … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: I remember going through some old photo albums several years ago when my young son, astonished by viewing the black and white photos, said: “when did the world turn colorful?”

Cute and innocent as it may sound, it made me realize that we often take our technology and innovation for granted. Just think about it. Here are a few of the remarkable transformations we have come to appreciate, become accustomed to, and probably now take for granted: The evolution of the Internet and all the amazing and remarkable value it provides, space exploration reaching higher than ever before, advancement in medicine and transforming the quality of our lives, or our ability to receive or provide instantaneous answers to sophisticated issues.

I am sure we all enjoy many moments that we cherish from our past. When I think back on all the incredible progress already achieved and its forecasted possibilities, I’d say the future looks brighter than ever.

This week’s tip: What successes have you achieved in the past that should be transformed to create an improved and brighter future?

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/ah-the-good-ol-days/feed/0Focushttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-focus/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-focus/#respondWed, 10 Jun 2015 17:07:46 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=3638This week’s reflection point: As part of our digital empire creation program, I’m privileged to spend great quality time with my many brilliant clients when they come to my studio to create video content for their sites. Many of them … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: As part of our digital empire creation program, I’m privileged to spend great quality time with my many brilliant clients when they come to my studio to create video content for their sites. Many of them spend days and weeks in meticulous preparation making sure the written content to be loaded on the teleprompter is perfect.

Others take a very different approach; without the use of a teleprompter, the inner muse flows organically as the camera rolls. Either way, focus is critical.

According to dictionary.com there are many meanings of the word focus. Here are a few:

To bring to a focus or into focus; cause to converge on a perceived point

To concentrate: to focus one’s thoughts

To become focused: on a central point, attraction, attention or activity

To direct one’s attention or efforts

Whether focusing on client issues, personal issues or in preparation of developing content for an e-book, a podcast, or a video, focusing on the major point desired to convey is a process that often requires complete silence, background music or finding the right mentor to draw it out of you.

This week’s tip: What tools do you use to focus on a task at hand? If you’re feeling stuck, why not try a new technique and let it flow! And if you are still stuck, call the only mentor, me!

Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-focus/feed/0Driving Traffic To Your Sitehttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-driving-traffic-to-your-site/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-driving-traffic-to-your-site/#respondWed, 03 Jun 2015 17:05:44 +0000http://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/?p=3636This week’s reflection point: The most common question I am asked is how to drive traffic to one’s site. Several years ago, while writing my book Million Dollar Web Presence, I discussed this concept, which was also featured in my … Continue reading →

Use your signature and incorporate links to your sites. These links should be to your home page, your blog, and interesting landing pages. These pages should contain offerings and credibility building pages such as case studies and testimonials. Include this signature in your email or wherever your profile is mentioned both online and offline.

Create an opt-in page that offer value to your visitors such as a free eBook, podcasts or several videos in return for their name and email address. Mention this page everywhere you can.

Become a guest contributor on others’ blogs and columns and incorporate the important links in your byline and embed them seamlessly in your content.

Refer to your site links in the content you create. Whether text, audio or video, make sure to always refer the visitor to more of your links of value.

Share your links on the various social media platforms.

Participate in various social media groups and references your links.

Repurpose older content you have created while including the current and past links of interest.

Use paid advertising such as Google or Facebook and others to drive traffic to various pages.

Provide others with your testimonials and reference your company and web address.

Collaborate with others by developing content, which will then expose their followers to you and your site.

Get interviewed by others, which will then get announced by them with the focus on you.

Send out newsletters and include links to additional resources on your site.

Submit your content to program directors of trade associations who are looking for content to publish and the reference to you.

Help journalists write their articles by quoting you and driving valuable traffic to you.

Interview and have conversations with interesting thinkers, which will be featured on their site and drive traffic to you.

I intend to update this post in the future with more such ideas so you may want to bookmark the link to this post.

This week’s tip: Start by defining effective ways of driving traffic to your site while increasing your global reach. Yet, once they get there, you need to have a plan as to what to do with them and how to keep them engaged. Stay tuned.

Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-driving-traffic-to-your-site/feed/0Where Is Your Energy Spent?https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-where-is-your-energy-spent/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-where-is-your-energy-spent/#respondWed, 27 May 2015 18:49:13 +0000http://www.chadbarr.com/?p=2890This week’s reflection point: Are you among those who are spending their precious time farming digital landscapes while your physical landscape and your wealth are withering away? Are you making friends and interacting with imaginable avatars while missing opportunities to … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Are you among those who are spending their precious time farming digital landscapes while your physical landscape and your wealth are withering away? Are you making friends and interacting with imaginable avatars while missing opportunities to meet with real buyers who need your help? Are you investing your energy in busy work rather than take action in activities that impact your life, business, those around you and your clients?

Guess what? You are not alone.

Here are the top 5 activities I’d suggest you embrace and execute:

Create and publish content

Innovate new offerings

Present your insights

Improve yourself and your clients

Meet buyers you can help

Your energy is finite. Use yours wisely.

This week’s tip: One of the simplest yet most effective tools I use and recommend is the calendar. Treat your calendar as sacrosanct. Schedule and take action on all the tasks you have committed to execute. This is how the landscape your dream of becomes the one you innovate and create.

Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success.

]]>https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-where-is-your-energy-spent/feed/0Cyber Strategies to Reduce Your Labor Intensityhttps://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-cyber-strategies-to-reduce-your-labor-intensity/
https://www.thechadbarrgroup.com/raising-the-barr-weekly-memo-cyber-strategies-to-reduce-your-labor-intensity/#respondWed, 20 May 2015 19:24:15 +0000http://www.chadbarr.com/?p=2885This week’s reflection point: Effective cyber strategies can help Reduce Your Labor Intensity. Yes, you heard it right. Here are some examples I implemented in my own business that have had significant positive impact. Create models. In the past, when … Continue reading →

This week’s reflection point: Effective cyber strategies can help Reduce Your Labor Intensity. Yes, you heard it right. Here are some examples I implemented in my own business that have had significant positive impact.

Create models. In the past, when helping my clients create their marketing blueprint, I found myself involved in lengthy conversations to help develop such. Yet, when I developed the Strategic Blueprint Model, I found clarity quickly increasing while labor intensity significantly being reduced.

Digitize your answers. When launching our clients’ web presence I used to conduct multiple conversations with them in order to help them promote and leverage their site. I then decided to write an article on How to Promote Your Web Site, which then allowed me to share it with them prior to our call and focus on the items that make most sense. Thus, saving us both precious energy and time.

Add value. A common question I am asked quite often is how to create provocative content. What usually follows is my step-by-step articulation of the attributes of provocative content and how to create such. Consequently, I decided to create my 11 Tips for Creating Provocative Content podcast that I now share as added value when I am asked this question.

This week’s tip: Reducing your labor intensity is not complicated. Review the tasks you repeat often and systematically automate them by leveraging cyber strategies with your intellectual property.

Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success.

Connect with buyers online and offline and engage in genuine conversations. Lead the conversation with your insights, best practices, and irresistible value.

Create attractive products and services that range from the economical to the high-end lucrative. These could be ebooks, audio books, books, subscription services, retreats, mastermind groups and retainers.